By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has called on the United Nations to create an international convention dedicated to protecting river deltas around the world, including Nigeria’s Niger Delta region, which continue to face severe environmental threats.
Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, Diri made the call on Monday during the opening session of the 4th Mega Delta Meeting: International Conference on Dialogue Between Land and Sea, held in Shanghai, China.
He noted that deltas across the globe are suffering from issues such as erosion, pollution, flooding, and the steady disappearance of salt marshes and mangroves, dangers that collectively threaten their survival and the livelihoods they support.
“It is with deep emotion that I address this gathering, for these deltas are not merely places on a map. They are the lifeblood of our communities, custodians of our stories, and the fragile promise of tomorrow.
“I speak with urgency and passion — not only to list challenges, but to honour the courage and resilience of those who continue to live, work, and dream in these deltas.
“These deltas feed nations, anchor economies, and nurture biodiversity. Yet they face rising seas, land subsidence, and dwindling sediment flows. From the Yangtze River (in China) to the Mekong River (in Southeast Asia; from the Danube (in Europe) to the Niger Delta, the pattern is the same. The deltas that sustain us are under threat,” the governor said.
Diri referenced findings from the Bayelsa State Oil and Environment Commission’s report titled “An Environmental Genocide: Counting the Human and Environmental Cost of Oil in Bayelsa, Nigeria,” saying it reveals the dire consequences of unchecked exploitation and the need for accountability.
According to him, ensuring global environmental resilience must begin with justice and decisive international action. He therefore urged the United Nations to “take responsibility and urgent action to prevent the ongoing depletion of the river deltas”.
“If deltas connect rivers to the oceans, then this conference must connect knowledge to action. That is why Bayelsa State, with the support of the Federal Government of Nigeria, has been leading the call for a United Nations Convention on the Conservation of River Deltas (UNCCRD),” he added.
Diri appealed to participants at the meeting to adopt a declaration of intent that would pave the way for such a convention, one that would protect fragile delta ecosystems, restore degraded wetlands, and empower local communities through sustainable livelihoods, research, and climate adaptation support.
“At home, we are translating this vision into practice. We have created a Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to align our conservation efforts with opportunity. We are restoring mangrove forests, which are the green shields of our coastline. We are training youths and women for livelihoods in aquaculture, eco-tourism, and renewable energy”.
Heritage Times HT reports that the three-day conference drew 180 participants from 31 countries, including government officials, researchers, scientists, community representatives, and members of civil society, all focused on developing strategies for the long-term survival and protection of the world’s major river deltas.
