South-South experts bemoan worsening environmental degradation in Niger Delta.
In Nigeria, environmental experts (including Umo Isua-Ikoh, the coordinator of the Blue Community Peace Point Development Foundation) have decried worsening environmental degradation in the South-South region and urged strict enforcement of laws to protect the environment from further damage. The stakeholders stated this during a survey on the state of the environment, saying environmental challenges in the region were caused by both natural and human activities. (…)
Umo Isua-Ikoh, the coordinator of Peace Point Development Foundation in Uyo, said environmental degradation in the state was mainly caused by human activities, including oil spills and gas flares. Mr Isua-Ikoh said in the Niger Delta, many issues, such as oil spills, gas flaring, deforestation, and ocean encroachment, threaten human existence, food safety, and food security. He said the level of fish extinction due to human activities had forced fishermen to travel long distances for weeks at sea, only to return with little or no fish.
Isua-Ikoh, an environmental justice advocate, urged the state government to update and enforce environmental laws to protect the environment and human life. He commended the environment ministry for consistently raising awareness of environmental issues in the country.
