SELEMATI Foundation Holds Memorial Lecture In Honour Of Chief Nwobidike Nwanodi

….As HOS, Others X-Ray Impact of Environmental Pollution In Niger Delta

SELEMATI foundation Tuesday February 18, 2020 held a memorial lecture in honour of late Chief Nwobidike Nwanodi (SAN) in Port Harcourt, even as family members, friends, legal practitioners and other stakeholders gathered to x-ray “The Impact Of Environmental Pollution on Human health in the Niger Delta.

In her welcome address, Mrs Judith Nwanodi,  Chairman Board of Trustees of SELEMATI Foundation said the foundation was established in line with the will of late Nwanodi  to promote the  enhancement of knowledge in field of medicine, environment and law.

In his speech, the Chairman of the occasion, Professor   Dagogo  Fubara said the late legal icon left a good legacy which he argued should be the watch word of every living person. According to the chairman of the occasion, people should ask themselves what they would be remembered for when they are no more.

In her own speech, the Programme Officer of SELEMATI Foundation, Mrs Rita Kigbara, explained that the  vision of the organization is to inspire Nigerians to be global academic leaders who have transformative impact on lives of marginalized people through collaborative research in the field of medicine, law and environmental studies.

Mrs Kigbara expressed the hope organization will achieve the feat by funding innovative and cost effective research in fields of medicine, law and environmental studies.

While reading biography of late Nwanodi, Dame Aleruchi Cookey -Gam described the late legal luminary as a courageous lawyer who was an advocate not only in the court room but also in the wider society.

The guest speaker, Rufus N. Godwins Esq, Head of Service, Rivers State   in his lecture on “The Impact Of Environmental Pollution On Human Health And The Challenges Of Interpretation And Enforcement Of Environmental Laws And Regulations In The Niger Delta” argued that gas flaring in Niger Delta was arguably the most potent source of global warming through the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Mr Godwins outlined some of the health effects of global warming to include direct heat, increased mortality, increased likelihood of natural disasters, reproductive health effects, among others.

The Head of Service posited that the environmental pollution on human health and environment of the Niger Delta has been compounded by the combination of restrictive judicial interpretation of extant environmental legislation, and an ineffective enforcement by the regulatory authority within the oil and gas sector.

Mr Godwins recommended that there should be an urgent paradigm shift by amendment of the NOSDRA Act by the National Assembly by increasing the penalties payable for oil spillers in the event of default to clean up an impacted site after due knowledge of the pollution from its installations to avert the risk of a frustrated populace seeking alternative unorthodox remedies with dangerous potentials for chaos and anarchy.

He further stated that there should be an amendment in the NESRA Act by repealing the provisions which preclude the oil and gas sector from purview of the agency machinery of enforcement.

In his contribution, Dr Kanu Chukwuneneye one of the panelist noted that the country is not supposed to compromise the future because of industrialization. He added that there should not be double standard in the operation of oil companies in Nigeria and oversea.

Professor T. K Abam on his part disclosed that pollution is not only from oil companies. He revealed that some comes from waste of human beings, indiscriminate dumping of refuse,dredging etc.

O.C.J Okocha, (SAN), Okey wali (SAN),Chairman of  Nigeria Bar Association, PortHarcourt branch Sylvester Adams, Esq, some Permanent Secretaries were among the dignitaries who graced the occasion.