Globally renowned environmentalist and founder of Fight Against Desert Encroachment (FADE), Dr. Newton Jibunoh, has raised the alarm over the escalating land-grabbing crisis, linking it to Nigeria’s worsening flood disasters.
In an interview, Dr. Jibunoh expressed concern over the unchecked land encroachment and deforestation that have intensified flooding and environmental degradation across the country.
Jibunoh stressed the perilous trend of land misuse and deforestation, driven by profit-seeking individuals and groups.
“The land-grabbing crisis calls to mind the warnings about rising sea levels and land subsidence that have devastated various regions of Nigeria. The degradation that follows land-grabbing will have dire consequences in the next two or three decades, and by then, it will be too late for ordinary people to escape,” he cautioned.
The environmentalist revealed disturbing personal accounts of threats he has faced from those involved in land-grabbing schemes in his hometown of Akwukwu Igbo, located in Oshimili North Local Government Area.
He referred to these individuals as a “cartel” that has reportedly corrupted local authorities to facilitate detrimental land deals. “Unfortunately, some in the hierarchy have been won over by this cartel, using their power to justify illegal land sales,” he lamented.
Dr. Jibunoh criticized the practices of selling ancestral lands at meagre prices, only to see them resold at exorbitant profits without any sustainable development plans.
Emphasizing the need for heightened community awareness about the long-term impacts of land transactions, Dr. Jibunoh remarked, “Many individuals do not realize the consequences of their decisions, especially when lured by immediate financial incentives from these cartels.”
He recounted instances where community members accepted small sums for their ancestral lands, only to witness those lands being resold for astronomical amounts.
The environmentalist further highlighted the increasing vulnerability of urban areas, particularly affluent neighborhoods like Victoria Island and Lekki, as rising sea levels and flooding become more prevalent. “What will happen when the storm warnings become reality? Where will we evacuate people to?” he asked.
Dr. Jibunoh pointed out that the degradation of ecosystems extends beyond local borders, with poor land management practices threatening to impact the entire country.
He echoed concerns about flooding risks in regions such as Lokoja, Delta, Rivers, and Akwa-Ibom states, where heavy rains have already caused severe disruptions. “We are interconnected; the consequences of land mismanagement will reverberate throughout Nigeria,” he warned.
In light of these alarming developments, Dr. Jibunoh insisted that communities must unite to advocate for sustainable land management practices and hold accountable those who exploit natural resources for profit.
