SEO Riders:
– King Bubaraye Dakolo’s environmental advocacy in Niger Delta
– Impact of oil pollution on Niger Delta communities
– HOMEF’s role in promoting environmental justice in Nigeria
At a recent environmental and cultural book reading event in Benin City, organized by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), King Bubaraye Dakolo of Ekpetiama Kingdom in Bayelsa State called for heightened environmental awareness and action to address the severe ecological degradation in the Niger Delta.
King Dakolo described the Niger Delta as a victim of “ecoside,” highlighting the region’s suffering from decades of pollution, gas flaring, and neglect by both oil multinationals and government regulators. He criticized regulatory bodies like the former Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) for their lack of independence and failure to enforce environmental standards, noting their reliance on oil companies for resources.
Reflecting on the drastic changes in the environment, he lamented the loss of biodiversity, stating, “The Kingfisher bird no longer lives in the creeks. It now nests in my palace; that’s how far pollution has chased nature.” He also shared excerpts from his books—*Riddles of the Oil Thief*, Pirates of the Gulf, and The African Voice—which expose the exploitation and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta.
Supporting King Dakolo’s message, HOMEF’s Executive Director, Nnimmo Bassey, emphasized the urgent need for environmental consciousness, linking environmental degradation to declining life expectancy in Nigeria. He stressed that without a safe environment, democracy, development, and human dignity remain unattainable.
