By Ovie Okpare
The National Coordinator, Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), Comrade Sheriff Mulade has challenged media practitioners in the Niger Delta to expose the harsh condition of living by residents of riverine communities in the region.
Mulade said bemoaned that in spite of the return of peace in the once troubled and crisis prone region, the people of the area are still suffering from under-development and pollution arising from activities of oil multinational operating in the region.
He made the call on Tuesday during a media parley with some selected journalists at CEPEJ’s Cooperate Headquarters at Ugolo-Okpe in Okpe Local Government Area near Warri in Delta State.
Mulade, while commending the media for their support for their role in the Niger Delta struggle, stressed that residents of riverine communities in the region are still faced with lack of accessible roads, water pollution, low quality of education and among others.
“I want to use this medium to charge all media practitioners to expose the challenges facing the riverine communities, the many sufferings of our people in terms of lack of good and accessible roads, lack of drinkable water, lack of electricity supply, quality education, health facilities and other infrastructural facilities, silting Rivers due to lack of dredging, air and water pollution from oil spills, poor maintenance of the few available facilities, and lack of community funding amongst others.
“We appeal to all media outfits to continue with the good work to affect lives positively directly and indirectly, speak out and to tell the world only the truth about issues in and around Nigeria at all times, and shun fake and hate news to avoid over heating the polity”, he stated.
The CEPEJ boss, however, called on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led government to urgently create a Coastal Areas Development Agency (CADA) that will fast-track development of riverine communities in Delta State.
“We appreciate you deeply for your tireless efforts and contributions by visiting the riverine communities several times to capture and confirm the good works this NGO has done and is doing in those difficult geographical terrains.
“The Press has helped us in publicising our call to the Delta State Government to create a Coastal Areas Development Agency, CADA, that will pilot a blue print for the development of the riverine communities. We commend the expertise and professionalism with which the media have communicated CEPEJ’s messages to a large audience far and near.
“We are impressed by the interventionist roles played by the Press in peace building towards sustainable development in Nigeria and other parts of Africa. The way you informed, educated and entertained the people, helped to influence the way people think and make decisions.”
He advised media practitioners to desist from promoting hate speech and fake news but rather promote norms that will foster peace and unity of Nigeria.
In their separate remarks, the chairman of the Delta State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Michael Ikeogwu and the acting General Manager of the Delta State Broadcasting Service, Pastor Malcolm Oteri thanked the management of CEPEJ for promoting unity among the different ethnic nationalities in the state.
They both assured that the media will continue to support efforts that will engender peace and development of the Niger Delta region.
