Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria
From Diana Okon-Effiong, Calabar
The bishops made the call in a statement by Rev. Fr. Evaristus Bassey, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive of its humanitarian agencies – Caritas Nigeria/Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) in Calabar.
The bishops said its humanitarian agencies recently carried out a knowledge, attitude and skills survey in the affected communities and were shocked at the outcome.
“The source of water supply and sanitation facilities in this corridor are appalling, Up to 94 per cent of respondents in these communities admitted to open defecation.In some of the communities there were no sanitation facilities at all. Government needs to declare a sanitation emergency on this corridor.
“This will involve awareness creation and provision of public water and sanitation facilities,’’ it stated. According to the statement the bishops though its agencies will do its bit “if we access the resources to do so’’.
The bishops also called on the Cross River Government to complement the efforts of Akamkpa Local Government Area to partner with relevant federal agencies to do something in the areas before the rains.
It also urged the Cross River government to be interested in the affected communities beyond the collection of carbon credits and royalties from forest and mineral exploitation.
“The dwindling oil prices have naturally tourism an alternative. The rain forest is a lucrative tourist attraction, but tourism cannot develop where there is poor access infrastructure.
“We therefore call on the cross river government to facilitate access to tourism sites in the state, especially in these rainforest areas, to further expand tourism,” it stated.
The group also appealed to the Cross River National Park to improve its advocacy with other ministries, departments and agencies of government to activate its rural development component.
“Restricting people from exploiting forest resources for livelihood without providing alternatives is unjust,” it stated.
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