HOMEF Faults Creation Of Gas Resources, Blue Economy Ministries

A group, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), has expressed concerns that the creation of the Ministries of Gas Resources and Petroleum as well as that of Marine and Blue Economy, may pose threat to the environment of oil field communities.

This is as it expressed the hope that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will explain to Nigerians the reasons behind the scrapping of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

HOMEF, in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP in Port Harcourt yesterday, also noted the failure of Tinubu to appoint a Minister for the Ministry of Environment, saying the development send a signal to Nigerians about the concern of the president to a sector that is so fundamental to their survival.

The statement, which was signed by the organisation’s executive director, Reverend Nnimmo Bassey, said the creation of Ministry of Gas Resources would only give license to the continuous gas emissions which are a major cause of climate change and attendant problems faced by the communities

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The statement reads in part: “There are many signs to show that we need to be worried about the president’s new lineup of ministries. Three of the announced ministries, the Ministry of Gas Resources, and the Ministry of Petroleum and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy raise special concerns at this time of our history.

“It is shocking to see that the Environment has no minister. Not appointing a minister for environment sends a signal to Nigerians about the concern of the president to a sector that is so fundamental to their survival.”

HOMEF stated that the title: “Marine and Blue Economy” was tautological as the blue economy is practicable only in marine or aquatic ecosystems.

The statement reads: “The government may wish to rename the unit as Ministry of Marine Resources. The concept of Blue Economy, like the Green Economy, is aimed at massive exploitation and commodification of Nature with deleterious consequences.

“Developing the marine and blue economy sectors will lead to industrial fishing, pollution, habitat destruction, marine biotechnology, deep sea mining and other activities that are ecologically harmful. With a hugely unpoliced continental shelf this focus will pose special threats to our communities and others in the entire Gulf of Guinea,” the group said.