Leadership (Abuja)
Patrick Ochoga
2 November 2009
Benin City — Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria at the United Nation's Consultation on Business and Human Rights has challenged the UN to propose a treaty that will compel members, whose companies are involved in exploration, to apply the same standards as obtained in their home countries.
This was contained in an address presented by the NGO's Head of Legal Resources/Democracy Outreach, Barrister Chima Williams, in Geneva, at this year's business forum tagged, "Operationalising the Protect, Respect, Remedy framework," copy of which was made available to LEADERSHIP.
Williiams opined that parts of solution in addressing issues related to negative effects of gas flaring and exploration on the environment is for the UN, with the support of the Nigeria government, and the Norwegian representative to give judicial backing that will compel members to abide by international standards.
He further urged President Umaru Yar'Adua to ensure that the ongoing constitution review addresses in earnest the injustices suffered by the Nigeria people owing to the constitution imposed on them by the past military administration.
According to ERA, "items contained in Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution should be modified appropriately. Section 315(5) (d) of 1999 constitution should be expunged and the Land Use Act repealed.
Items under section 251(1) (e) and (n) should be moved from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list so that both federal and state government and courts will have power to legislate and adjudicate on matters arising therefrom," he stated
On the role of international corporations in addressing the problem, it charged companies to live up to their corporate responsibilities to their host communities.
"Companies should stop taking advantage of the weaknesses of the government and the people of their host countries in not upholding the same standards."
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