Ecological experts and advocates have tasked the Nigerian government to ensure that environmental rights are made justiciable to avoid the environmental suicides currently occurring in many communities across the country.

Citing the recent floods in Niger State, the Ororo oil fields on OML 95 offshore Ondo State, that has been burning for over five years, and the devastation in Ogoni land, the experts said the call is to ensure that environmental injustice against communities is remediated as soon as it occurs.

The call is in the wake of the climate and ecological crisis facing the country, further aggravated by pollution from extractive activities, land degradation, poor mining regulations, among others, which continue to devastate lives and livelihoods.

Although Nigeria is believed to enjoy one of the best climates and ecosystems, experts now worry that decades of poorly regulated mineral extraction, biodiversity loss and poor policy implementation have eroded the nation’s natural endowments.

The experts insist that streamlining and harmonising national policies and frameworks on environment will help address the socio-ecological challenges, fix deteriorating ecosystems and ensure justice for devastated communities.

The stakeholders, under the umbrella of the Nigeria Socio-Ecological Alternatives Convergence, NSAC, at a meeting in Abuja on Monday, noted the urgent need to address the country’s environmental crisis.

Convener of the Convergence, Dr Nnimo Bassey, warns that Nigeria may be heading to environmental doom, except its leaders check extractive activities, enforce mining regulations, ensure biosafety and just energy transition and also recognise the personhood of nature by not blasting it away.

Bassey noted that no part of the country is spared the crisis, especially with desertification, deforestation, extreme water and air pollution, deadly floods, coastal and gully erosion, persistently devastating communities.

He said, ”All of these challenges merit a declaration of national environmental and security emergency but we do not see any drift or thinking towards that.

”We have issues and we cannot just be on a rampage, extracting and exploiting resources all over the place without critical regulation. We’re asking that some places be declared mining-free zones, we want a halt to the importation and approval of genetically modified organisms, ending deforestation, engaging in reforestation and learning from local knowledge about what is important for our environment.

”We also call for the protection of wetlands, a halt to indiscriminate land reclamation, the Enforcement of mining regulations, decommissioning of mines and oil wells at the end of life and reparations for ecological damage to affected communities.”

Highlighting the disintegration of policy interventions across the country, Professor of Climatology, Emmanuel Oladipo, noted the enormity of the climate crisis in Nigeria, warning that ”it is very severe.”

He said the environment must be included in the country’s development plan for meaningful socio-economic growth, while national environmental assets, NEA, must be protected and accounted for.

Prof Oladipo noted that changes in climatic conditions are part of the natural and artificial conditions of human existence that cannot be changed but can be managed and their impact on the economy minimised.

On policy implementation, Prof Oladipo said, ”The policies are too many, I think there is a need to harmonise them. If we have about two or three policies with good action plans, it will be easier to monitor than having 60 policies plus, all of which are addressing one aspect of the environment and the other and having so many agencies that are finding it difficult to work together.

”There’s a need for agencies to streamline activities and attack this problem in a holistic, integrated manner rather than a sectoral approach.

”And to be honest, the government of Nigeria has recognised the importance of climate change, what is still lacking is a comprehensive national approach that will at least reduce the impact.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says Nigeria needs right operators of the constitution, not a perfect constitution, to lead in good governance and promotion of welfare and wellbeing of the citizenry.

Obasanjo stated this in his remarks at the opening of a three-day National Summit on the Future of Nigeria’s Constitutional Democracy, organised by The Patriots, in collaboration with the Nigeria Political Summit Group, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Obasanjo, in his remarks read by the Secretary-General, Eminent Patriots, Mr Olawale Okunniyi, said that while a nation’s constitution must reflect its history, its constituents and the aspiration of its people, “no constitution is perfect.”

He noted that the operators of the constitution played a key role in the implementation and promotion of the wellbeing of the citizens.

“From my experience in operating our constitution, I will be the first to point out some areas of our constitution that need amendment. However, for me, no constitution can ever be regarded as perfect.

“But whatever the strength or weakness of a constitution, the most important issue, to my own understanding and experience, is the operators of the constitution.

“The best constitution can be perverted and distorted by the operators and we have experienced that all over Africa, Nigeria is not exempted.

“I am more concerned about the operators of the constitution to lead in good governance and promotion of welfare and wellbeing of the citizenry.

“No matter what you do to the Nigerian constitution, if the operators of the constitution, for the past one decade and a half, remain unchanged and continue in the same manner, the welfare and wellbeing of Nigerians will continue to be sacrificed on the altar of selfishness.

“It will continue to be sacrificed on the altar of self-centeredness, corruption, impunity and total disregard of the constitution, decency, morality, integrity and honesty,’’ he said.

Obasanjo said at this crucial time, the operators matter more and the searchlight must be on them.

A former Governor of Akwa-Ibom, Victor Attah, in his remarks, also read by Okunniyi, stated that the 1999 Constitution was not a people’s constitution.

Attah said the summit was not another routine conference but an opportunity to confront the fundamental contradiction that Nigeria was governed by the will of the people, but by a constitution that robbed the citizens of their sovereignty.

He described the 1999 constitution as a military decree, imposed without the consent of the people

“The military suspended the 1963 Constitution which remains the last legal expression of our people’s collective will and agreed terms of condition for staying together,” he said.

The former governor said that the 1963 Constitution was suspended, repealed, proscribed or abrogated.

“We, from the South-South region, join other zones across this country who now agree that this union is not working as it is.

“It can only be sustained if it is restructured on the basis of equity, justice and mutual consent,” he said.

According to him, Nigeria’s democracy is not working, while people’s trust in the government has also declined.

This, he said, was due to the country’s departure from a functional federal system to an imperial, presidential, unitary system of government.

“We, in consultation with other leaders and The Compatriots – a group I chair – believe the following must be addressed.

“Sovereignty must return to the people. We must get rid of this unitary system and reinstate the federal system of governance that our founding fathers had agreed to.

“True federalism must guarantee maximum autonomy to the federating units.

“Cost of politics must be brought down to open space for inclusiveness and real leadership.

“Unicameral legislature with ministers appointed only from elected representatives,” he said.

Attah advised Nigerians to take advantage of the summit to address contending issues, saying: “We must not be afraid to change, rather be afraid not to change.

“Nigeria’s unity will only be preserved through fairness and justice – not force or fear.

“And if we miss this opportunity, the next chapter may be one of irreversible fragmentation. I believe and I know many of you also believe, that time is running out,” he said.

On his part, Sen. Gbenga Daniel, the Co-Chairman, Organising Committee of the summit, described the occasion as a significant step in Nigeria’s journey toward unity, progress and national development.

“This summit is a citizen-driven constitutional intervention, stemming from months and even years of relentless advocacy, extensive consultations and a growing sense of public urgency.

“We are here because the existing structure, established by the 1999 Constitution, has consistently proven to be inadequate in effectively addressing the core issues related to governance, equity, inclusion and national cohesion.

“Our agenda for the coming days is ambitious but aims to be straightforward and focused,” he said.

The former Ogun governor said the summit would scrutinise vital themes, including: the organisation and structure of the Nigerian federation, the role and functioning of local governments and traditional institutions and resource control and fiscal federalism.

He said that it would also look at electoral and judicial reforms, security concerns nationwide and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in a 21st century democracy.

“More importantly, we will work diligently to ensure that no voice is too small and that no group is left behind.

“This summit is multi-generational, spanning different regions, and inclusive of various sectors, truly embodying the Nigeria we aspire to build,” he said.

Daniel, who is the Senate Committee Chairman on Navy, urged Nigerian youths, women, civil society actors as well as traditional and religious leaders to be involved in discussions.

Their involvement and voices, he said, were crucial in building a brighter, more inclusive and resilient future for all.

Daniel said the resolutions and proposals arising from the summit would be carefully documented, further refined and subsequently presented to both the presidency and the National Assembly for their considerations.

“Our intention is not to foster confrontation but to promote constructive collaboration and mutual understanding.

“It is imperative that we persuade our leaders—through reasoned argument, consensus-building and compelling evidence—that Nigeria is in dire need of a new constitutional framework that reflects the aspirations and realities of all its citizens,” he stated.

Nigerians have continued to celebrate as the son of late President Umar Yar’adua wedded his partner.

Umaru Musa Yar’adua, the late President’s son, got married to Maryam Shuaib in Abuja last weekend.

As clips and pictures of the wedding circulated on social media, Nigerians trooped to the comment section to bless the union.

While tagging the groom’s late father as “best President” Nigeria ever had, they prayed that the couple be blessed because of the deeds of the late Yar’adua.

One BG Blaq wrote; “No generation course for dis family. God will bless your marriage”.

AYOMIPOSI; “See as you Dey reap wetin your papa sow chaii. It’s good to be good o and may Almighty Allah that you serve bring peace to your household and new beginning with your wife”.

Annabel; “During your father’s tenure we don’t use to eat fufu in my family. My father said is not good for our health but now we are a fufu vendor”.

@foreverkingin wrote; “Yar’Adua is resting in peace, don’t know about the other guy that just kpaid”.

@Koigbest; “Congratulations to the young couple. May your father’s good name continue to open doors of kindness and love in your lives”.

@chimacoeche; “Congratulations and happy married life to him, his father was the best thing that happened to Nigeria”.

Loula120; “The aura around him!
May God bless their family a million folds!
May goodness follow him wherever he goes. May God remember his father’s kindness and grant him the best life has to offer!”.

@abiodunsagie1; “Congrats to him. His father wasn’t perfect but was the best President after Obasanjo. Good men get praises”.

@IconPD; “The father left a good name behind. Congratulations to them”.

@Rhyne_Davidson; “Yar’Adua becomes the only preserved name of a former leader that will always get respect from all geopolitical zones. The rest names died with the chief bearers and their children will never be mentioned for good”.

@Chimnoye180124; “If Buhari did well, let his son or any member of his family post something online. Then you will understand the meaning of the sins of the father upon the children”.

Watch the trending clip.