By Milcah Tanimu

Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, sounded an alarm on Wednesday regarding the unchecked deforestation taking place in Nigeria.

The former governor of Bayelsa state, who represents Bayelsa West in the National Assembly, expressed his concerns while receiving the Excellence in Environmental Leadership award from a Coalition of 20 Non-Governmental Organizations dedicated to Environment, Ecology, and Climate Change at the Senate.

Comrade Celestine Okwudili, representing Mrs. Ene Obi of Action Aid, presented the award during the event.

The Coalition honored Senator Dickson for his significant contributions in maintaining a healthy environment during his tenure as the Governor of Bayelsa State from 2012 to 2020.

According to Mr. Okwudili, Senator Dickson’s notable efforts include the establishment of an international commission on the environment, led by Bishop Lord Sentamu. The Commission’s comprehensive report was recently submitted to the House of Lords, and it was received by Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State.

The Coalition also highlighted Senator Dickson’s bold decision to employ 250 graduates, trained and stationed as forest protection officers within the Ministry of Environment. This initiative aimed to counteract the illegal tree felling that has led to extensive deforestation in Bayelsa, states within the Niger Delta, and numerous other regions across Nigeria.

Senator Dickson, in his speech, urged state governors to take deliberate actions to curb the rampant deforestation happening across various states. He warned that without prompt intervention, finding trees aged 15 years or older in the country could become increasingly challenging.

Furthermore, he called upon state governors to intensify their efforts in safeguarding the environment for future generations.

Senator Dickson pledged to leverage his new role as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change to collaborate closely with all key stakeholders involved in environmental issues. He committed to utilizing all available platforms to champion the cause of the environment, ecology, and climate change.

“In my capacity as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, I will collaborate with all Nigerian NGOs, support institutional efforts, and work towards advancing environmental causes, particularly in the fight against climate change. Nigeria’s response to climate change and its support for communities affected by it will witness notable improvements when our Committee takes action,” he stated.

Reflecting on the Bishop Sentamu Commission’s findings that implicated oil companies operating in the region, Senator Dickson recalled the reasons behind establishing the international commission during his administration.

“I grew weary of the environmental degradation and its impact on people’s lives. I assembled a commission comprising esteemed international figures to conduct thorough and comprehensive assessments. They visited communities, collected samples including blood, and identified heavy metals in people’s systems due to contaminated water and polluted air. This scientific basis solidified the case of pollution in the area.”

“I extend my gratitude to my team, commission members, and Lord Bishop Sentamu, who ventured into the creeks. The oil companies resisted and opposed me, but I remained undeterred,” he concluded.