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Bayelsa demands reparation, environmental cleanup over oil pollution
Bayelsa Governor, Douye Diri, has demanded reparations and an extensive environmental cleanup to address decades of ecological devastation caused by crude oil exploration in the State.
Speaking to journalists at the State House, Abuja, after a meeting between Bayelsa’s political and traditional leaders and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Diri highlighted the severe environmental and health crises facing his state due to unchecked oil activities.
The Bayelsa leaders said they were paying a thank you visit on the President for the appointment of one of their daughters, Mrs. Didi Lawson-Jack, as the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, among other important appointments from the state.
Diri, who presented the Bayelsa State Oil and Environment Commission Report to Tinubu during the meeting, pointed to the extensive damage in the state’s rivers and rural areas, where oil pollution has permeated the waterways, damaging the ecosystems and local economies.
The Governor also raised concerns over the alarming rise in cancer cases and other unusual illnesses among Bayelsa’s residents, linking these health crises to prolonged oil pollution.
The report he referenced traces these health issues directly to the oil industry’s operations, underscoring the urgent need for a comprehensive response.
He stressed that the livelihoods of Bayelsa residents, many of whom rely on fishing and farming, have been devastated by widespread pollution.
Diri urged the Federal Government to prioritise environmental restoration, similar to ongoing efforts in Ogoniland through the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).
Diri noted that oil companies must assume responsibility for the damage, regardless of whether it was caused by equipment failure or acts of sabotage, pointing out that international laws hold companies accountable for pollution resulting from their facilities and equipment.
“Well, the report is there. If you’re asking for the recommendations, they are not just one. They are not two. But what is more important there is the issue of our environment and in that recommendation, they are talking about the clean-up, you know about the Ogoni situation, and HYPREP, and our environment is totally gone.
“If you go into the rivers and the rooflets of Bayelsa state, you will be perceiving oil, economic activities of our people have been grounded, and up until today, you still have oil pollution all over the state.
“So the number one thing is, first of all, restore the environment, clean up the environment, and of course, you have to pay reparations, and those who have caused these damage, most times they say, Oh, it is as a result of sabotage.
“But international law doesn’t recognize sabotage. You own those facilities and equipment, whether the oil spillages were as a result of sabotage or ageing equipment, which is most times the case, equipment failures, reparations have to be paid.
“As I speak with you today, issues about cancer are now almost like a normal thing in Bayelsa state, and this report has traced it to the activities of the oil companies, oil exploration and all other types of very bizarre types of sicknesses that were not hitherto known to the people of Bayelsa”, he said
The world’s tallest woman and the world’s shortest woman met for the first time this week, sipping tea from china cups — and bonding over what they have in common while celebrating their differences.
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Rumeysa Gelgi, from Turkey, stands at 7 feet and 0.7 inches, while Jyoti Amge, from India, is 2 feet and 0.7 inches.
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
“You’re so beautiful,” said Gelgi, 27. “Thank you — you too,” replied Amge, 30.
Their meeting, over afternoon tea at London’s Savoy Hotel on Tuesday, came ahead of Guinness World Records Day, which is held annually in November to mark record-breaking achievements and encourage people to attempt records. The pair have been honored as “World Record icons” in the 70th anniversary edition of the Guinness World Records book.
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“Meeting Jyoti for the first time was wonderful,” Gelgi said in a release Wednesday. “She’s the most gorgeous lady. I was waiting to meet her for a long time.”
Gelgi said the pair bonded over their love for makeup, jewelry and doing their nails.
Video footage showed them sitting down for tea, cakes and sandwiches stacked next to them, with the London Eye visible from the window.
Amge said in the release that she was “so happy to look up” and see the world’s tallest woman, whom she called “good-natured.” She added that it was difficult at times for the pair to make eye contact “due to our height difference.”
“Guinness World Records is all about celebrating differences,” its editor in chief, Craig Glenday, said in a statement ahead of Guinness World Record Day, which is on Thursday.
“By bringing together these two amazing, iconic women, they can share their perspectives on life with each other and, also, with us,” Glenday said.
Gelgi’s record-breaking height is due to a rare genetic condition called Weaver syndrome, which causes rapid growth, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.
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The primary symptom is growth and bone development that occurs faster than usual, making those affected taller than average. People with Weaver syndrome may have rigid muscles and difficulty extending their elbows or knees.
Gelgi used a walking aid for support during the pair’s meeting. Her case of Weaver syndrome was the 27th ever diagnosed and the first in Turkey, according to Guinness World Records.
Weaver syndrome is generally caused by changes in the EZH2 gene, according to the NORD, though the organization notes that some people with Weaver syndrome do not have a mutation in the gene.
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Amge, an actor who played the character of Ma Petite in the television series “American Horror Story,” has a genetic growth disorder that occurs in the early stages of fetal development, known as achondroplasia.
According to Johns Hopkins, the condition causes shorter bones, abnormally shaped bones and shorter stature. While the genetic defect can be passed from parent to child, in about 80 percent of cases, achondroplasia results from a spontaneous mutation that occurs in the developing embryo.
On Thursday, Gelgi shared photos on Instagram of the two exploring London despite the cold weather, posing side by side in front of Tower Bridge.
See Photos of World’s Tallest and Shortest Women Meet for Afternoon Tea in London
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