Celebrated world over annually on June 5, World Environment Day is a day set aside to bring to the fore as well as address pressing issues that border around the environment.
To mark 2023 World Environment Day, a non-governmental organisation, Sustainable Actions for Nature in partnership with Prime Initiative for Green Development carried out an “Awareness Walk to Mangrove Site in Bodo Community” to advocate for change and assess the extent of environmental degradation within the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria, West Africa.
According to the Founder and Executive Director of Sustainable Actions for Nature, Dr. Grace Alawa, the visit to the Mangrove site is aimed to raise “awareness about the critical issue of environmental degradation caused by plastic pollution, witnessing firsthand the devastating impact of plastic waste on fragile ecosystems to inspire action among community members, local authorities, and other stakeholders.”
In her address, Dr. Grace (SAN) further stated that the advocacy visit had the objective to “evaluate the current state of the environment in Bodo City, a community in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers state, Nigeria and to examine the severity of plastic pollution and seek viable solutions to mitigate its detrimental effects.”
The theme for 2023 World Environment Day is centered on providing solutions to plastic pollution using the campaign, #BeatPlasticPollution.
The visit availed participants the opportunity of engaging stakeholders and members of the community in crucial dialogues.
In an interview with The Social Voice Africa’s John Best Uche, Chairman, Heads of Village Heads, Bodo City, Mr. Celestine Baribefe Viula said “the government never cares about the situation of Bodo people.”
Mr. Baribefe lamented over the effect of oil spillage on the people of Bodo Community.
He said they have “lost aquatic life” which is the “main source of income” for the people of the community. “The poor men and women and their children are no longer fending well” for themselves. This obviously is contributing to poor education as “the children are not able to go to school.”
The community leader made reference to a United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) report saying “if they (government) want to do anything, they must apply the system of UNEP Report.”
In further engagement, Mr. Saro Bariduwane, Secretary of Maritime, Bodo Unit, said the major “challenge” they face as a people is low tide. Travellers from Bodo City to Bonny at certain times, would have to wait for the tide to return to normal for them to make their journeys.
Saro called on the government to help dredge the swamp to enable travellers make their journeys as and when they need to.
Dr. Grace Alawa, Executive Director of Sustainable Actions for Nature used the occasion of the World Environment Day to call on “individuals, organizations, and governments to come together and champion the urgent need for a proper plastic management system in rural communities” saying “plastic pollution is wreaking havoc on our environment, affecting the delicate ecosystems that sustain life and threatening the well-being of communities worldwide.”
Away from what may be described as the pitiable condition of Bodo City experienced, the visit served as a tourism avenue for young environmental advocates mixed with both indigene and non-indigene who may not have been to Bodo Community before. Some also described the visit as a discovery journey.
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Kudos
Welldone
Great report.