protect the mangrove forests of the niger delta

Several Hectares Of Mangrove Forests To Be Destroyed In Ogoniland,
Other Parts Of The Niger Delta By Obasanjo Government.

INTRODUCTION

The last reserve of the rich mangrove forests in Ogoniland and other
parts of Rivers State in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, is
currently facing the greatest threat of its life. The current threat
is coming from the president Olusegun Obasanjo's government in
Nigeria. The government has mapped out several hectares of hitherto
inaccessible dense mangrove forests, virgin flood forests, creeks,
rivers, ecological sanctuaries and large expanse of fertile farmlands
with crops for destruction.

The above resources would be destroyed to give way to the
construction of a huge bridge from Bodo community in Ogoniland to
the Bonny Island, home of the Nigeria's Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

ß Ecological imbalance

The project, according to Nigerian Officials is to provide
alternative transportation route via land for the transfer of LNG
products (Liquifield Gas) and personnel from the Island to other
parts of the country and beyond. The contract to construct a huge
dual carriage access road was awarded to Gitto Costruzioni Generali
Nigeria Limited, an Italian Multi-national firm, said to be owned by
former vice - president of Italy, Gitto. Some "powerful " Nigerians
such as the Vice -president of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar among
few others are said to be major shareholders in the firm.

However, Niger Delta project for Environment, Human Rights and
Development (NDPEHRD) learnt that the project was conceived by a past
military regime in Nigeria.

NDPEHRD further field investigation reveals that workers and
materials from the foreign civil engineering firm had been mobilized
to the construction site at Bodo community in the Gokana Local
Government Area of Ogoni, Rivers State. It is important to note that
from the Bodo Community to the famous Bonny River is about 6 nautical
miles away, where as, the lengthier part of the project will destroy
mangrove forests and other resources.

ß When Law Makers Become Law Breakers

In the wake of widespread community protests that greeted the
project, the federal government had released the sum of Four million
one hundred eighty five thousand dollars ($4185000, 000) to the
affected communities of Bodo and Mogho through Gitto Costruzioni
Generali Nigeria Limited officials as some form of compensation to
douse the mounting tension arising from the road project. Local
conservationists, poor formers and fisher folks have expressed fears
about the project that it will lead to extinction of the unique
plants and animal species in the area.

The project during execution and implementation will plunder mangrove
forests in Andoni Communities in the Andoni Local Government and the
remaining ones in Bonny Island, all in Rivers state. The mangrove
species identified in the affected area are Rhizophora Racemosa,
Rhizophora Horrisonii and Rhizophora mangle.

The project had commenced with the contracted agreement signed and
money allocated by the Nigerian authorities to its partner, Gitto
Costruzioni Generali Nigeria Limited . But, the duo have not
conducted an environmental impact assessment (EIA) as required by the
EIA Decree which statutorily makes it compulsory for project like the
Bodo-Bonny Road project to carry out an EIA or a baseline study to
determine the environmental and social suitability of such project.

ß Save our Mangrove Forests, Save our Lives

Majority of the resources in the area are rapidly disappearing. The
international Oil/Gas Companies operating in the area have committed
grave environmental crimes against the peoples and their environment.
Their activities have accelerated the depletion of mangrove forests
during their subsonic probing and pipe laying operations.

The endangered ecosystem of the area offers valuable natural
resources and is, potentially important food production area.

The mangrove forests of the area act as nursery breeding, feeding and
nursery grands for ecological important fishes and shellfish species,
and in supporting variety of insects, birds and mammals.

Act Now.

Developments need to be people centered. We must unite to resist this
kind of destructive development project in the name of development
now. We must mobilize, educate and organize against this planned
development to protect our heritage and to save our future now.

We must bombard Nigerian authorities concerned with protest letters,
actions and resistance now

Join Us Today!

For more information, please contact,
Cletus Kiele, Information Officer,
Niger Delta Project for Environment,
Human Rights and Development,
(NDPEHRD)
6, Obo Nwanboke Street, (Post Office Building)
P.O. Box 590,
Ogale- Nchia,
Eleme Local government Area,
Rivers State
Nigeria.
E- Mail; [email protected]

Please write of your sincere concerns to the President of Nigeria
asking thsat he halt this badly conceived project. The followingis a
sample letter for your use if needed:

The President of Nigeria,
Aso Rock,
Abuja ,Nigeria.

Via

Ambassador,
His Excellency,
Embassy of The Federal Republic of Nigeria,
1333 16th Street, NW,
Washington, DC 20036,
Tel:(202) 986-8400
Fax (202) 775-1385,
E-mail; jibrilaminu@nigeriaembassy vsa.org

Dear Mr. President,

Still On The Proposed Destruction Of Several Hectares Of Mangrove
Forests In Ogoni, Andoni And Bonny In The Niger Delta Region Of
Nigeria.

I am gravely concerned about your proposal to construct a huge dual
carriage road from Bodo Community in the Gokana Local Government
Area, Ogoni, through other non-Ogoni Communities to the Bonny Island,
host of the Nigeria's Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) plant. I gathered
that primarily the road project shall serve as an alternative
transportation route via land for NLNG personnel and products to
other parts of your country and beyond.

I am exceedingly worried about the degradation your project will
wreck on the large expanse of hitherto inaccessible dense mangrove
forests, flood forests, creeks, rivers, fertile farmlands with crops
and other ecological sanctuaries on the affected path during project
implementation and execution.

I implore you to respect the rural people of these communities who
depend on the resources you are about to destroy as source of
livelihood. I also plead with you to obey your laws, the
Environmental impact Assessment (EIA) Decree 1988 which makes it
mandatory for an EIA to be conducted on project like this to
determine its environmental and social suitability.

As required of civilized governments all over the world,
"development project" should be people -centred, people oriented,
pro-people and humane and not as a threat to people's live and
resources like your new project.

I urge you to halt the project and listen to the hue and cry of
the people of the area, and stop the project and conduct the
statutorily compulsory EIA to ascertain its appropriateness.

Please, I expect your Co-operation on this.

Yours sincerely,

From: Niger Delta [email protected]