UyomIban Development Initiative ,a Non Governmental Organization and other women group in Niger Delta,in Nigeria has resolved to engage stakeholders in oil industry to bring to an end continuous gas flaring by multinational corporations operating in their communities.
The resolve was made at a strategy meeting with stakeholders on ‘Ending gas flare in Eleme in Rivers State and training of community women on the causes of gas flaring on the People’ organized by Uyom Iban Development Initiative, with support of Global Green Grants Funds.
In her remarks,the representative of Executive Director,Uyom Iban Development Initiative, Nelly Umoren, said the meeting is borne out of environmental issues and perceived injustice going on in Eleme,as well as health and socio-economic impact of gas flare on community women.
Umorem observed that despite the outcry against the re-emergence of black-soot in the state, the issue of gas flaring is no longer in social discourse,even as the Government target of ending gas flare by year 2020 has been shifted to 2030 necessitated the need to raise the issue and return it to front burner.
Umorem lamented that the impacted health and livelihood of women is contributing to food insecurity in the community and nation, calling for the need to amplify the women voices in Eleme and the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
Dr.Doutimiye Ogbofa, training facilitator at the programme,said gas flaring is a social,environmental and human rights menace that needs to be addressed critically through the joint effort of all stakeholders as it result in a huge economic loss to the nation.
Mrs Chuna Alamu and Phoebe Jack who spoke on behalf of the women drawn from Agbo-Nchia,Akpajo and Aleto communities in Eleme said apart from been enlightened on the negative effects of gas flare on Eleme women and their children, they have also become aware of the cause of some untimely death in the communities.
