Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), has asked journalists to increase media space and time alloted to environmental issues especially on the Ogoni clean – up exercise.
The program manager of CISLAC Mr Salaudeem Hashim gave the charge during a Media engagement with environmental Journalists from various media organization in Rivers State.
According to him, environmental issues have not been given much needed attention by the media as most of the information out there are not true adding that consistent media talk on the Ogoni Clean -up would affect the way and manner the exercise will be carried out.
He regretted that the events in Ogoni has brought retrogression instead of increased livelihood and stressed the need for the media to amplify the issues and failures of those responsible for the process.
“It is observed that the Nigerian press devote much attention to political coverage over the more devastating situation going on in Ogoni. There is therefore need to devote ample space and time to these local issues and curb fatalities occasioned by pollution. Increased and investigative reportage of environmental issues in Ogoni will increase transparency, accountability, responsiveness of both government and companies and the people will largely benefit”, he noted.
Journalists who participated in the meeting maintained that collaboration with CISLAC and other civil societies on the issue of Ogoni clean up and other environmental issues in the Niger Delta will bring about factual and robust reportage for immediate action by Government at all levels.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government had flagged off the remediation of contaminated sites in Ogoni in 2016, yet no serious sight of intervention at the affected communities. The well being of the people in Ogoni, and the Niger Delta at large, is still at pathetic state. Record has it that life expectancy has dropped to 40, while livelihoods have been destroyed, inhabitants consume contaminated water 900 times above WHO standards, and festival of funerals in the region has become very worrisome; all due to pollution and exposure to environmental hazards.
