An environmentalist, Mr Nnimmo Bassey, has said that last Saturday’s landslide incident in Okolobo community in the Kolokuma/Opokumo Local Government Area of Bayelsa was the effect of climate change.
The landslide destroyed more than eight houses along a river bank and rendered several families homeless.
Bassey, who is the Executive Director of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), made the observation in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Yenagoa.
According to him, ERA/FoEN field findings showed that recurring landslide incidents are induced by human activities.
He said that the fragile Niger Delta ecosystem which had been exposed to serious pressure by the climate change phenomenon was further worsened by oil exploration activities.
``Unprotected coastlines in the Niger Delta are challenged by climate change, rising sea levels and movement of oil company vessels and equipment on the water ways.
``Recurrent landslides and coastal erosion destroy houses and infrastructure and cost the nation huge sums of money while impoverishing the already deprived rural populations.
``All tiers of government must share in the blame for this negligence. Local and state governments as well as the NNDC must secure and protect our shorelines,’’ Bassey said.
The environmentalist urged the Federal Government to mitigate the growing threat of climate change by ending gas flaring which, he said ``releases tonnes of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere daily’’.
He said that stopping gas flaring, reinforcing the shore lines and provision of rural infrastructure were the necessary steps to bring relief to coastal communities in the Niger Delta region.
NAN
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