By Bode Olagoke,
A delegate representing Civil Society Groups, Dr. Isaac Osuoka has stressed the need for state government and community’s involvement in resource management.
Osuoka made the call at the plenary of the ongoing National Conference while making presentation on environmental impacts of resource exploitation.
He said: “Mr Chairman, the reality is that communities cannot rely on the federal government alone to manage resources, including the management of environmental impacts of resource exploitation. The state governments and the communities should participate in resource management”
“There is too much power held by the central government. It has become a no-man’s land where people just go and loot. We cannot adequate address environmental problems without devolving power to the states which is the tier of government closer to affected communities.”
The activist recommended that all natural resources, both renewable and non-renewable, minerals, forests and environmental protection should be placed on the concurrent legislative list of the constitution.
He said that placing oil and gas on the concurrent list would ensure that states can invest in gas-to-power schemes instead of just waiting for the central government.
He said states can also outlaw gas flaring by compelling companies to stop flaring.
Dr. Osuoka also stressed the need for states to license and regulates small scale miners while the federal government should see to large scale miners, provided that the federal government cannot grant license without the approval of the state government.
Making case for the protection of small scale miners, Osuoka said that small scale miners must have their rights to livelihood protected and adequate compensation given to them.
He also stressed the need for the issue of desertification to be treated as a national emergency, adding that part of the huge funds meant for tree planting are embezzled by some of those who are at the conference.
