Civil Groups task CSOs, Media, others on climate change Peril

By Peter Ejiofor
Anti-corruption agencies, academia, international and local civil society organisations, have urged the media, labour, community-based groups and others to strengthen alliance and network to decisively wage a vigorous campaign against climate change peril.

Their call is not unconnected with the glaring threat posed by climate change to the world, as enunciated at the of the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP 26, held at the SECCentre in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 13, 2021.

The groups also charged them to rise against illicit financial flow from Africa (Nigeria inclusive), saying it was partly responsible for poverty, misery, unemployment and the surging wave of violence and desperation of many African countries.

The groups made the call in a communiqué at the end of a one-day workshop on “Illicit Financial Flow, Gas Flaring and COP 26’’, organised by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda, (HEDA) Resource Centre, Re-Common and Cornerhouse.

The workshop was held in Lagos in collaboration with Fossil Fuel Non- Proliferation Treaty Initiative and supported by MacArthur Foundation.

The theme of the workshop is “Illicit Financial Flow and Gas Flaring as Albatross to Nigeria’s Climate Change Response: Building Momentum towards COP 26’’.

They said that corruption remained a growing threat to global security and prosperity, noting that corruption had continued to undermine the human and material potential of Nigeria, fuel poverty, hunger, starvation and economic and political instabilities.

According to them, one of the major contributory factors to corruption is illicit Financial Flows, and every year, billions of dollars are siphoned from Nigeria by public and private officials stunting the country’s growth and economic wellbeing.

“Oil and Gas is the mainstay of Nigerian political-economy, while the sector remains one of the dark spots of dishonesty.

“Since 1956 when oil was first discovered in Nigeria, billions of dollars have been sourced by the Nigerian authorities but have neither translated to prosperity nor improved the lives of millions of Nigerians who remain poor and vulnerable.

“An outstanding means of corruption and Illicit Financial Flow in the oil sector is through Gas Flaring whereas, the impact of climate change on livelihood in Nigeria is real,’’ the communique said.

The participants examined illicit financial flow and gas flaring as a major threat to livelihood and climate change and the responses and resolved that Africa, including Nigeria needed to renew efforts to halt Illicit Financial Flow in the oil and gas sector, perpetrated by local and international actors.

They also noted that Climate Change remained a phenomenon challenge and that Africa, including Nigeria should rise up to its peril.

“Such efforts must include all stakeholders but not limited to the civil society, democratic institutions, religious bodies and indigenous communities.

“Nigerian government should employ modern technology in the detection of the quantity and quality of oil and gas exported from the country which should lead to freezing and demobilisation of assets such as shares and real property apart from the repatriation of all stolen funds which should be incorporated into projects that impact on the essential needs of Nigerians.

“Retrieving illicit funds requires the employment of legal and diplomatic mechanisms within the framework of best global practices. This means that Africa, including Nigeria, should work towards stopping corruption at home to prevent illicit financial flow from the continent,’’ it said.

They also said that Africa needed a transparent and accountable system of government that would enhance a people-driven mechanism to enhance openness and inclusiveness.

Hence, there should be a paradigm shift from reliance on foreign aids to self-reliance which involves judicious use of local human and material assets with development built around institutions rather than individuals, the communique said.

“Government should focus on private-sector growth rather than private interest growth, and the efforts of the campaigns to ‘save Africa’ and ‘make poverty history’ would be meaningless in the face of the consistent damage done to the continent through corruption by government officials and operators of the private sector.

“Thus, people must conscientiously hold the government accountable through constructive democratic engagements, it added.

“The perpetration of graft is sustained by the fraternity between states that encourages a symbiotic relationship between a looting ruling elite class and rogue multinationals, including local and international actors in the banking and financial institutions of foreign receiving nations.

“Any attempt to deal with corruption needs to take the current situation into cognisance.

“Africa member states should strengthen anti-corruption institutions to be able to legally deal with corrupt persons and bring them to book through a speedy and less complex trial.

“Africa member states should wake up to the challenges posed by Climate Change, Gas flaring and illicit financial flow, the continent being the most vulnerable, yet the least prepared for climate change as well as the most affected by its negative consequences like draught, deforestation and pollution, given its economic and resilience situations, including lack of access, opportunity, infrastructure etc.

“Climate change as a major challenge also comes with associated opportunities to explore new technology, new knowledge, still Africa has yet to key into this window,’’ it said.

It urged the continent to focus also on research and initiatives to indigenous solutions to complement global efforts to resolve the challenge posed by climate change.