By Martha Agas
The Network Advancement Programme for Poverty and Disaster Risk Reduction (NAPPDRR) has known as for the assessment of the proposed institution of a naval base contained in the Stubb Creek Forest Reserve.
NAPPDRR Executive Director, Mr Emem Edoho, made the decision in a petition submitted on behalf of the indigenous peoples and host communities of Stubb Creek Forest Reserve in 4 Akwa Ibom Local Government Areas.
The petition addressed to President Bola Tinubu by way of the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal on Monday, was made obtainable to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
The native authorities areas embody Esit-Eket, Ibeno, Mbo and Eket.
Edoho stated the Akwa Ibom Government’s announcement of the proposed growth on Oct. 13 had raised considerations amongst stakeholders, significantly because the directive allegedly contravened extant legal guidelines and worldwide commitments.
He stated establishing a army base with out the free, prior and knowledgeable consent of the Ekid and Ibeno indigenous communities within the space would violate ideas regarding indigenous peoples’ rights.
He additionally stated the undertaking might trigger financial displacement by way of the lack of fishing grounds, non-timber forest merchandise, firewood and farmlands with out compensation or a resettlement plan in distinction to provisions of Land Use Act 1978.
The govt director stated the forest also referred to as Akoiyak Ekid, offered vital ecosystem companies, together with flood management, carbon sequestration, fisheries breeding grounds and livelihood sustenance.
He described the reserve as a biodiversity hotspot within the Gulf of Guinea, comprising mangrove swamp, freshwater swamp and tropical rainforest ecosystems.
According to him, the reserve has been dwelling to species listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, together with Sclater’s guenon, Mona monkey, manatee, pangolin and forest elephant.
He stated an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was obligatory for any undertaking prone to considerably have an effect on the surroundings, which he alleged was not performed for the proposed growth.
“No EIA, public display or public hearing has been conducted or published for this project. Proceeding without it is an offence under Section 60 punishable by fine and imprisonment, as affirmed in Gbemre v. Shell,” he stated.
He additionally cited the Akwa Ibom Law for the Preservation and Control of Forests, 2000, which he stated prescribed procedures for de-reservation, together with gazette discover, survey, public inquiry and legislative approval.
Edoho additionally raised considerations in regards to the potential local weather influence of the proposed growth, saying destruction of the mangroves would launch saved carbon and undermine Nigeria’s local weather commitments.
According to him, safety presence inside a fragile ecosystem has traditionally led to militarisation of useful resource entry, elevated unlawful logging and human rights considerations, moderately than neighborhood safety.
He urged Tinubu to order a direct halt to any clearing, de-reservation or building inside the reserve pending full compliance with due course of.
He additional known as for an impartial panel comprising representatives of the Federal Government, Akwa Ibom Government, Ekid People’s Union, Ibeno communities, NAPPDRR and environmental consultants to find out the standing, boundaries and preservation plan for the reserve.
Edoho additionally urged the federal authorities to declare Stubb Creek Forest Reserve a Critical Natural Habitat and Community Conserved Area for ecotourism, blue financial system and local weather resilience.
He burdened that destruction of Stubb Creek Forest Reserve for any undertaking, nonetheless laudable its intention, would quantity to irreversible environmental injustice, a violation of Nigerian regulation, and a betrayal of Nigeria’s local weather commitments to the world.(NAN)
MAA/DCO
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Edited by Deborah Coker
