Beginning of a life-changing journey
Annkio Briggs hails from the Niger Delta region in Nigeria. Her first point of call with the environment came from her experience after the Nigerian civil war when she came back from the United Kingdom to Nigeria. The devastation from the after effects of the civil war made her not to recognize the beauty of her environment and nature. She took a positive step when she went to the United Kingdom and did research on environmental devastation due to what she had seen in her environment. She believed and still believes that the federal government should be held accountable for their actions and their responsibility tot he people of the Niger Delta region. When she got back to Nigeria, she became a core activist, inspired by the actions of Ken Saro Wiwa, and she wanted to take actions against the government to make them accountable.
The current reality of Climate change in Africa
For her, the reality is that the issue of climate change is the responsibility of the world, the people and government of Nigeria. We cannot be held directly responsible for climate change because the footprints for negative effects of climate change leads back outside of Niger Delta region. Decades ago, countries were giving money to African countries including Nigeria to allow them dump waste and negative substances and Niger Delta was one of the Affected regions. A pertinent issue for her was ‘why would Nigerian government take what is not good for the white men and accept for them to be dumped in Nigeria in exchange for money?’ The angle of western countries in handling the issue of climate change still does not answer the question of the negative effects of climate change. God has a way of humor because the major destruction is also in the western world as they are experiencing all kind of strange things and some of them have been traced back to the source which is the ozone layer. At the end of the day, Africa is the one that ends up suffering and at the mercy of the others.
Environmental activism as an instrument in promoting Climate change
It’s interesting to see young people become aware of the effects of climate change and fight for what is right. It is because when the elders leave the scene in few years to come, it may not be easy for young people to be environmental activists if they don’t take action now. However, environmental activism is risky and dangerous because you are met with obstacles and ‘powers that be’ such as the government and oil companies. It has become a normal occurrence that anywhere there is natural resources, there is abuse.
For the European countries that have oil, there is nothing like environmental devastation and no one talks about it either. It is commendable that young people have decided to follow in the steps of elders to combat climate crisis. However, things were not as bad in the time of the elders as it is now. An example is Niger Delta. Young people must hold the government accountable for their actions because they are to be held accountable.
Her Emotions towards Climate change in Nigeria
The Niger Delta region has really degraded and the sorry sight of the region brings about mixed emotions and a bit of nostalgia because of the beautiful sight that it once was. For Ms. Briggs, she gives a practical example of how during her childhood, the sand on the beach used to be clear and the water too. However, she feels anger because she had painted a beautiful picture of her childhood experiences to her children but in reality, it had become a fragment of her memory because it was no longer in existence. England and the United States have oil and gas but they do not experience the high rate of devastation like the Niger Delta. She attributes this devastation to the corruption of African leaders.
She feels anxiety, anger and frustration at the situation and the stakeholders who are involved in the system responsible for the crisis. It is the anger that fuels her passion for climate change. However, it is a huge risk because when you decide to take actions against them and express your rights, they come at you and try to economically disempower you. While they can buy some people, they try to bring down those who they can’t. The people doing ‘right’ are considered ‘the enemy’ and their lives are made miserable. This is why as an environmental activist, you have to resist the temptations to be bought and become aware of the dangers involved in environmental activism such as falling prey to blackmail. She advises young people that to earn a living is a right and to fight for what you want as well.
The negative effects of devastation
Gas Flaring is illegal in Nigeria and globally but it is a common practice in Nigeria. Yet, the oil companies and government try to give excuses for their actions even when it has devastating effects on the environment. Gas Flaring is a waste of resources but the major stakeholders involved do not want to take appropriate actions to preserve this gas and this negatively affects the people and the environment, especially in the Niger Delta. An example is the high rate of skin cancer, asthma, lung cancer, mental illnesses and other diseases among people in the Niger Delta as a direct result of gas Flaring.
Also, deforestation is part of devastation because the trees are not being replaced, even though they are living things which primarily protect us from some forms of devastation. If Nigeria is not careful, we would eventually turn our greenery into deserts because nothing is being replaced.
Protecting the environment is our rights as human beings, otherwise we would have nothing to hold on to in the years to come.
According to her, she used to cry about the state of things but she knew that her mandate was to keep fighting to protect the environment and hold the government accountable. She says that if young people are afraid, they would not be able to achieve anything. She enjoins youths to charge the government on the activities of other countries in Nigeria and ask the right questions.
We need change and we need to protect nature because it is a part of our lives.
Advice to young people fighting for change
Annkio advices young people to keep encouraging theirselves. However, she states that she also has a responsibility first to encourage young people too. There would be obstacles on this path, but young people need to make the important decision not to let the obstacles prevent them.
Once you conquer fear, you are halfway to achieving your goals.
It makes the government, oil companies and other parties involved afraid of you because you have taken an important step. You must always be on the side of the truth because once you have said something, it cannot be taken back. Though mistakes may be made with regard to figures and facts, one must own up to it because it is a genuine error. The key factor is to be true to yourself as a change maker, whether as an individual or organization. Also, keep records of the truth because even if it may be irrelevant now, it will be relevant in the future.
Also, it is essential to earn a living and get a source of income especially if you are on this path. Having a consistent source of income encourages you because where you become economically disempowered, you are at risk of being bought by the ‘wrong’ people. Activism isn’t a source of income but a form of determination to make change. When it is not a source of living for you, you are free and more determined for change. Where it is, you become careful not to step on wrong toes and you are restrained from doing the right thing properly.
Further, Activism is like a selfish activity and you must have the mental capacity for it. Activism is a service that you render first to yourself because you must understand that as a person, you are a vital part of the society and environment. So, if you don’t speak up for yourself, no one will. Also, as a woman especially if you are married, it becomes difficult to do this kind of work except you have an understanding partner. You must also learn to weigh decisions and make the right ones because sometimes, sacrifices have to be made. However, whatever sacrifice you make must be in favour of your family especially your children.
Every time, you must make the best decision for you, your children, your family and your environment.
It is also important to place God at the forefront because he is a vital factor. One key takeaway is that as a person, you have to be selfish for yourself and your children because when you are no longer existing, it will be your children that will be there.
Finally, always try to work with where you or your organization has been. Always have records and evidence, whether videos, pictures, dates of events because they are going to be very useful when proving and fighting for your cause. Where this is the case, it builds trust in the heart of people towards you and your organization.