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By Pius Dukor
Against the backdrop of environmental degradation, contamination of underground water and continuous gas flares in the Niger Delta, the country director of Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN), Florence Ibok-Abassey, has said that what the region needs now is a total scientific assessment to take care of the litany of challenges bedeviling it.
Ibok-Abassey make the observation at the celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of the SDN.
She said the 20 years of impact of SDN is critical to the development of the region in many facet. “The 20 years of impact is great, and it has not been easy because of many issues and challenges in the Niger Delta,” she said.
When asked what policy the organisation is pushing, she maintained that the most pressing issue now is the comprehensive scientific assessment that will look at the underground water, gas flares and most importantly the clean up of the entire Niger Delta, adding that this is necessary even if the Ogoni clean up have started.
“The issue of water is very key in the Niger Delta and we don’t know the quality of water we drink and how contaminated it is.”
On challenges SDN has faced in the 20 years of its existence, Ibok-Abassey told journalists that the key thing is the changing dynamics in working in the Niger Delta, saying we all have a stake in the progress of the area, noting that there are many issues but unity of purpose is very important. She stated that the scientific assessment will put the Niger Delta in a proper perspective in over all clean up of the area.
In an interview after the event, Fortune Alfred, Political Adviser to Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office of the British Council said that the 20th anniversary of SDN is key, adding that they are in collaboration with the organisation.
He expressed satisfaction that SDN in the past 20 years had done enormous work in the area of education, budget, oil and gas and community development and inclusion.
“SDN has been very impactful in the Niger Delta as they have expanded to Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom State in creating awareness on good governance.”
Alfred explained that the organisation had also organised governorship debate in the quest for good governance, while tracking budget in the region.
On his part, Fynface Dumnamene Fynface commended SDN for their leadership role in the Niger Delta in the area of oil divestment, gas flares, and most importantly the Petroleum Industry Act.
He further told media men that he is one of the key partners of SDN in the area of research, adding that so far SDN has been very impactful in the Niger Delta region.
