Kebetache Women Development and Resources Centre, a Non-Governmental Organization in the Niger Delta has organized a one-day training on Environmental Social and Human Rights Assessment in Port Harcourt, the State Capital.
In her opening remarks, the Executive Director of the Organization, Chief Eme Okon stated that the project is in collaboration with WOMIN Africa Gender and Extractive Alliance, saying that the project is tagged “power up project” which is in only three selected Africa countries, such as South-Africa, Zimbabwe and Nigeria.
She described the training as a serious one and not a jamboree as the selected participants would use the knowledge from the training to engage their community leaders, oil companies and officials of International Oil Companies while the aim is to build capacity and encourage their right as community persons to say what is not right in an oil bearing community.
She explained that the choice of Abua communities was as a result of an oil company which operated in the area without considering the need for Environmental impact Assessment in Abua some years ago.
She said the topic on the training was chosen by the women, maintaining that the project will last for two years, saying those who attended the training will use the wealth of experience to advocate better deal on environmental, social, health and human right impact assessment especially on new companies coming to operate in the area.
The project is in selected communities of Abua, Eleme and Onelga with different areas of project topic, she said.
Earlier, a resource person, Dr. Sam Kabari, explained that there are critical gaps in the current Environmental Impact Assessment, hence there is need for the Social, Health and Human Rights Impact Assessment currently before the National Assembly saying the oil E.I.A is not comprehensive and lacks social, health, gender and human right components in assessing project in communities.
He maintained that Impact Assessment is prerequisite for oil companies and other bigger construction companies in communities so that both the company and community will assess the damage the company will bring to the community for the purpose of avoiding or payment of compensation saying the existing regulations are not enough to address concerns from oil spills.
Dr. Kabari condemned the rate of telecommunication masts spreading across the Niger Delta without proper EIA report on them as the masts emit a chemical substance known as uranium 238 which is dangerous to our health.
In an interview after the training, Drama Isaac from Okoboh and Mksigher Kingsley from Odaga told journalists that they will use training to advocate for good oil deals for the communities as they advised oil companies to take the issue of EIA seriously before embarking on any project in the community saying they should agree on issues to have peace and stability.
