BY SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has supported 40 households at Owukpa Coal Mine host community in Benue with multi-function solar power systems.
It would be recalled that Owukpa Consolidated Mines Nigeria Limited, a coal exploration, development and mining company, in 2021 halted operations in the area following advocacy by climate change advocacy groups for clean energy.
This is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by Kome Odhomor, Media/Communication Lead at Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) an ecological think tank coordinating partnering CSOs.
The CSOs under the auspices of Yes to Life, No to Mining
(YLNM) is a global solidarity network for Indigenous Peoples, impacted
communities, and local organizations advocating for the right to say
“No” to mining.
According to HOMEF, the gesture is in a bid to support a post-extractive future for Owukpa women, whose
peaceful efforts led to the halting of environmentally destructive coal
mining activities in their community in 2021.
According to HOMEF, YLNM partnered with Eco Defenders Network to distribute multi-functional solar power systems to about 40 women.
The CSO noted that the event in Owukpa was met with great enthusiasm as beneficiaries
expressed gratitude for the initiative, which will help address their
energy needs at home and in their businesses.
Speaking at the event, Shehu Akowe of Eco Defenders Network,
representing YLNM, emphasized that this gesture calls on the government
and well-meaning Nigerians to advocate for ecologically and socially
just energy alternatives.
He noted the support of energy systems that
value diverse ways of life and protect the land, air, and water on which
everyone depends.
Akowe also stated that Nigeria’s vast solar and wind potential should
be harnessed to create clean energy alternatives to coal.
“Embracing these technologies will help move us beyond the violent and harmful
practice of extraction, which assumes the Earth has no limits, and
instead provide communities with clean energy systems.” He said.
Akowe emphasized the importance of unity in advocating for
life-sustaining, post-extractive futures that respect human dignity and
environmental integrity.
Responding, two beneficiaries, Mrs. A.A. Cecilia and Mrs. G. Enenche,
expressed their gratitude, acknowledging that the gesture would help address the long-standing issue of energy deficiency in Owukpa.
They thanked the organizations for the solar-powered systems, affirming that the new lights would improve their homes and businesses.
They also urged the government to embrace solar energy as a viable alternative to their
community’s ongoing energy access challenges.
Madam Julie Onoja, a community environmental mobilizer and member of
Owukpa who has long supported her fellow women in their fight for a
cleaner environment, also expressed her appreciation to YLNM for
supporting Owukpa’s women.
She reiterated that the women would continue
to advocate for the closure of the coal mine while also calling for the
development of better infrastructure, including improved roads, schools,
functional hospitals, and access to clean,
portable water and reliable
electricity.
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