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Tag: Sheriff Mulade

  • FG tasked on lasting solution to flood onslaught

    The federal government has been tasked to pursue ways that will bring lasting solutions to the onslaught of flooding across communities in Nigeria.

    The director of the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), Comrade Sheriff Mulade, made the call in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri on Wednesday.

    According to him, not only are properties worth millions of naira lost to the ravaging flood, several lives have been yearly, cut short.

    It will be noted that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NMA) had warned of the impending disaster in 11 states including Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Kaduna, Kwara, Nasarawa, Yobe and Zamfara. However, not much was done by relevant government agencies to avert the situation.

    Mulade, in his statement, therefore appealed to the federal and state governments, international civil society organizations, private sectors as well as well-meaning individuals to join CEPEJ to provide assistance, especially in resettling flood victims in the country.

    He said “As a non-governmental organization with a special focus on environmental justice, we are sensitizing the people living within the affected areas and call for adequate relief materials to the victims and to properly resettle them.

    “CEPEJ is also by this means advocating that the federal government provides continued assistance in the resettlement efforts towards finding a permanent solution to the problem of flooding in Nigeria. We are deeply saddened that several lives have been lost to the annual flooding in the affected areas, homes and farmlands have been destroyed, means of livelihood brought to an abrupt halt and farm produce worth millions of naira have also been destroyed.

    Read Also: Flood kills 20-year-old in Anambra

     

    “CEPEJ hopes that as part of the Federal Government’s long term measures, the construction of buffer dams on the long stretch of the Niger be considered, to intermittently break wild water tides and avoid future re-occurrence”, he said.

    Noting that many affected persons are yet to be reached with aids, he added that suffering is on the increase for cases where it was practically impossible to send relief materials or evacuate the victims.

    In September, a national disaster was declared in the worst four affected states; Anambra, Delta, Kogi and Niger, with NEMA releasing a report that about 327,052 people are affected in the flooded states with over 70 casualties.

    Also, an outbreak of malaria and water borne diseases has been reported, just as displaced persons are currently being hosted in emergency shelters such as local government offices, schools, stadiums, churches and internally displaced persons (IDP) hostels built by Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation.

  • 2019 polls: Centre sues for peace

    The Centre for Peace, and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) has called on all the presidential candidates of the various political parties to conduct peaceful campaigns ahead of the general elections.

    National Coordinator of the centre, Sheriff Mulade, at a briefing in Abuja on Saturday, called on the political parties participating in the elections to propagate the message of a violent free electoral process.

    He said the centre would monitor the campaigns of the various political parties within the framework of justice and peaceful advocacy.

    Read Also: How to enthrone peace in Nigeria, by experts

    Mulade said: “Nigeria is strategic to global peace as the country remains the most populous Black Country in the world and the most populated African nation.

    “With the significant position it occupies in the globe, Nigeria’s activities are constantly under watch by the international community.

    “Therefore, Nigeria cannot afford to be in conflict internally because of the coming general elections.

    “The various political parties and their presidential candidates must strive to make history by ensuring peaceful electioneering campaign period.

    “The presidential candidates must realise that they are first and foremost Nigerian citizens before becoming flag bearers of their various political parties.”

  • NGO Charges Buhari to See to Ending Gas Flaring Immediately

    NGO Charges Buhari to See to Ending Gas Flaring Immediately

     

    The federal government has been charged to effectively end the practice of gas flaring in the Niger Delta, in the interest of the people of the region.

    Giving the charge in a statement issued in Warri on Friday, the National Coordinator of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), Comrade Sheriff Mulade, noted that the new amendment recently suggested by the federal government would not be deterrent enough to the international oil companies.

    He made this statement following government’s plan to charge those who flout gas flaring law   that cost  the nation billions of dollars as, stated by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun.

    According to Comrade Mulade, oil companies prefer flaring gas instead of harnessing it for economic benefit to the people.

    He stated that the new intention by government to approach lawmakers to amend the law and have the word “charge” replaced with “penalty” will not stop the flare, since companies find it easier to flare, pay the penalty and move on, without considering the hazardous effect on the people.

    Read Also: Gas explosions

    “It is believed that the gas flare law is weak; hence the oil companies flout it at will. Most communities are suffering terrible hardship as a result of gas flaring and oil spill. While some are under the threat of relocation by oil companies to make way for more gas flare”, he said.

    He, however, urged the federal government to demonstrate effective political will to enact environment friendly policies, build a dynamic and competitive energy sector, enhance governance and show commitment to regulate enforce, and expand external financing solutions.

    He added that, government should provide a legal, regulatory, investment and operating environment that is conducive to upstream investments.

    He also advised oil companies to develop new oil fields and operate according to plans that incorporate sustainable utilization of the fields associated with gas without routine flaring.

  • NGO makes case for environment laws

    NGO makes case for environment laws

    The Coordinator, Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), Comrade Sheriff Mulade, has called on federal and state lawmakers to enact laws towards clean cities and communities.

    Mulade made the call in Sheffield, United Kingdom when he and other members of the Nigerian environmental stakeholders visited the UK.

    He said such legislation would not only make the cities clean, but also manage waste to create employment through recycling processes and harnessing of bio- energy for electricity generation.

    ”Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice will continue to strive to work with all relevant environmental authorities in Nigeria on the best ways to manage and dispose waste in a more environmentally-friendly and cost-effective manner.

    ”It is high time the Nigerian legislature enacted environmental best practice law to address the challenge of indiscriminate waste disposal in our cities. Nigeria can no longer continue to send majority of its household waste to land-fill sites instead of recycling facilities,” he said.

    Mulade expressed optimism that accepting modern method of waste management would guarantee the cleanliness of our environment while ensuring the provision of employment and bio-generated energy.

    “We were attracted to Lagos State last year where, in collaboration with the state government, we held a national environmental summit. What we saw in Lagos clearly demonstrates that waste is now wealth,” he stated.

    Explaining further, the National Coordinator of CEPEJ reiterated that in line with its mission statement, the NGO is fully committed to partnering with relevant government agencies and other stakeholders for a sustainable campaign for the transformation of the Nigerian environment through reduction of waste, proper waste disposal and recycling.

    Mulade said: “In CEPEJ, we have continued to carry out enlightenment workshops that are meant to change the old system of waste disposal and management.”

    Commenting on his Sheffield experience, the Comrade noted that, “we were in the U.K to study waste management facilities. One of the sites we visited was the Sheffield energy recovery facility and we discovered that waste is no longer waste but a lucrative business that creates job opportunities. The waste awareness campaign, recycling service and the efficient energy recovery facility ensures that the residents of Sheffield only send a small amount of waste to land-fill sites.”