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About Us

BEMI

Bakassi Environmental Management Initiative (BEMI) is a Community Based, Non - Governmental, voluntary and not for profit Organization operating in Bakassi Coastal Communities to foster conservation and preservation of its and Cross River environment in Niger Delta . BEMI devotes time to carry out HIV/AIDS Education / Awareness, Prevention and Control in order to stem the tide against the epidemic. We also spare time for reproductive health issues, Child’s Survival / Rights, Human, Economic, Social Cultural and Political Rights of our Community in the face of Criminal neglect and wanton exploitation of the natural resources (Oil and Gas, Marine and forestry Products) found in our ancestral territory. We enlighten the Local Communities on gender equality and discourage the idea of male chauvinism that is prevalent. BEMI is set to change the fortune of the Local Communities favorably by initiating Micro Enterprises for sustainable economic development and seek emergency humanitarian aid when expedient. Due to the international dimension of conflicts as to who owns the sovereignty of Bakassi Peninsula, we work in liaison with the communities to articulate position and pursue our rights peacefully as enshrined in the International Bill of Rights and UN covenants. Again, in keeping with the philosophy of youth being leaders of tomorrow, our organization emphasizes and encourages youth education and vocational empowerment to prepare them for the challenges ahead. We also consider the consequences of economic activities of the multi-National and indigenous oil corporation to our environment and demand that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA,) Environmental Evaluation / Audit Reports (EE/ARS) and memorandum of understanding, (MOU) be carry out to ameliorate environmental and social impacts as these will arrest violence by the youth in Bakassi in particular and Niger Delta in general.

Brief History of BEMI

BEMI is an acronym for Bakassi Environmental Management Initiative. This is a Community Based, non Governmental, and Voluntary and Not for Profit Organization founded in the year 2002 to confront the flagrant and consistent environmental degradation and pollution due to human economic activities primarily in Bakassi Peninsula. It functions as an environmental watchday. Furthermore scores of social ills in our Communities such as poverty, illiteracy, ignorance, criminal neglect, gender inequality, female genital mutilation (female circumcision), teenage pregnancy leading to many street children, drugs addition / abuse and child abuse - (child labour, slavery, trafficking and abduction) as well as HIV/AIDS epidemic (where promiscuous sexual intercourse is done with pride) necessitated the birth of this organization. For the organization to be taken seriously we sought and have been accorded official recognition by Cross River State Government with a certificate of registration No. CRS 263 as CBO / NGO operating in Cross River State.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

v To enlighten, sensitize and educate the fisherfolk and wetland dwellers on the importance of mangrove.

v To protect, maintain, defense and promote basic natural and environmental rights of the Coastal Communities.

v To undertake viable projects and meaningful programmes that will be of immense benefits to the Local Communities by way of organizing workshops, talks hop/ show, seminars conferences, press briefings, leadership, drills, consultation units, viewing centres, operating education redemption funds etc.

v To initiate and foster intensive, educative, informative, sensitive and provocative moves through media, personal contacts, consultants, rights and social activist to reach out to Local, National and International agencies, governments for preservation and conservation of Bakassi Ecosystem.

v To impress, persuade, compel and ensure that oil exploration in Bakassi territory whose activities are capable of creating environmental and social impacts carry y out EIA, EE/ARs and MOU etc.

v To enlighten, advise, direct and guide Local Communities on the effect, impact, result and consequences of oil prospecting and exploitation to Bakassi Environment and Measures (remedial and mitigative) that could be sought for.

v To compel trawler’s operator to comply with the code of conduct to responsible fisheries while carrying out their activities on Bakassi waters.

v To carry out STDs and HIV/AIDS education /Awareness, prevention, control and voluntary confidential counseling and testing as well as treatment and management.

v To campaign against the following social ills in our society: Female genital mutilation (female circumcision), teenage pregnancy, sexual exploitation, child abuse - (child labour, slavery, trafficking and abduction), drugs addiction and abuse.

v To facilitate capacity building or training of its members to carry out their voluntary services to the benefits of their Communities.

v To network, collaborate and join force with other organizations and agencies at home and abroad with similar interest, agenda and policy to redress conceivable environmental abuses, criminal neglect, diseases and HIV/AIDS epidemic, basic human, economic, social, cultural and political rights.

v To educate the people to stop further destructive fishing practices, expansion of shrimp aquaculture, exploitation of mangrove tree for fuel wood or other unsustainable development especially in sensitive ecosystem.

v To inculcate in the people, ideas for alternatives sustainable livelihood that could be adopted by groups or individuals to suit the need of the fishing Communities in order to arrest the threat of extreme poverty and hunger.

v To embark on campaign to encourage fisher folk and other wetland dwellers to allow their children attend school to acquire formal education.

v To seek assistance, grants, awards and aid, even to generate its own funds from sources created or available to it, to ensure that it carries out the aims and objectives successfully.

AN OVERVIEW OF BAKASSI PENINSULA

Bakassi Peninsula, the area of our focus, lies in between part of Nigeria bordering South Western Cameroun. It is an extension of the territory of Calabar into the Atlantic Ocean. It lies between 4 026’ and 40 50’ North of the Equater and longitude 80 30’ and 90 08’ East of the Greenwish Meridian. Virtually all parts of Bakassi lie within the coast line. It is bordered in the North by Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State, in the West by the Atlantic Ocean in the South by the Bight of Bonny and in the East by the Republic of Cameroum. Bakassi situates at the extreme Eastern end of the gulf of Guinea where the warm east flowing Guinea current meets the cold North flowing Benquela current.

GEOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES

The entire area is underlain by one major geological formation, which is sedimen tary Basin. The massive sedimentary basin is bounded in the East by the volcanic instrusion of the Republic of Cameroun.

Marine erosion, flood, oil spills / pollution, loss of biodiversity, poor quality of domestic water and frequent occurrence of fire disasters in highly congested residential areas of Bakassi Peninsula are serious environmental problems that required attention. The lithology of the area which is more than seventy six percent (76%) sand is favourable for the storage and extraction of ground water and dominated by loose sands.

There is no ship or vessel that would berth at Calabar Port in Cross River State Nigeria without taking its navigational bearing from Bakassi maritime zone. Again, during low tide, sand bars stretching a distance of over fourteen kilometer (14 km)long is usually observed between Abana and Atabong West (Atai Ema) shoreline. This provides a beautiful land scape which could be developed into a tourist attraction.

Bakassi which has an estimated population of about 156,288 inhabitants was carved out of the present Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State of Nigeria as a political entity known as Local Government Area delienated into ten (10) political ward structure on December 6, 1996 by the then millitary Head of State / President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Late General Sani Abacha Regime. Bakassi is an integral part of Niger Delta (Nigeria). The people are predominantly fishermen / women, petty traders farmers, boat’s operators. This Area is inhabited by Efut, Efik and Effiat as well as non - indigenes of Nigerian stock.

It is reasonable to inform that Bakassi is endowed by nature with crude oil deposits, gas and other unharnessed mineral resources and large forest reserves - timbers and forestry products. It is a fertile fishing ground for fishes, shrimps, prawns. etc.The area which is blessed with palm fruits, rubber, could also be used for cultivation of other cash and food crops.

The terrain of the area is very difficult since every island is completely detached from one another by the adjoining rivers. This is one of the reason the educational standard of the area is very low in addition to paucity of schools while pupils paddle canoe to school and back everyday.

In most family it is the same canoe a child takes to school that is used by parent to arry out their occupation. Often times when parent use the canoe, their children have to accompany them to the sea for fishing even during school hours since they cannot afford to attend school on those days. This is largely responsible for the high level of school dropouts in the area. People often time die of their ailment because of the poor health care delivery services. Imagine three (3) Health care centres built by Local Government Council which are barely equipped and without drugs catering for the servicves of about 156288 people.

The centres do not have the required manpower to contend with the pressure. Again ransportation difficulty contributes to the poor health care delivery service in this area.

TARGET GROUP

Children / Youth, Students, Commercial sex workers, women, fishermen, teachers tutors, traditional rulers, Local Government Council personnels, Elected Councillors, Military personnel, Oil worker, trawlers operators, boat operators etc.

ORGANIZATIONS COLLABORATING / AFFILIATED TO

Akpabuyo Bakassi Green Movement (ABGREMO) -NGN:

Email:- abgremo@yahoo.com

Man and Water Survival -

W A A M E, Senegal -

eforum - Nigeria

African Mangroves Network, AMN, senegal-

Mangrove Action Project, MAP, USA - mangrovap@olympus.net.

DESCRIPTION OF ORGANISATION’S FOCUS

Education / Awareness of HIV/ AIDS prevention, control voluntary confidential counselling, testing, treatment and management.

* Preservation, conservation and protection of mangrove ecosystem

* Environmental protection of Bakassi coastal communities against degradation and pollution

* Inculcation of friendly fishing practices culture in the wetland dwellers.

* Peaceful coexistence among the inhabitants and the multi- national corporation.

* Arrest of unwholesome practices on reproductive health

· Campaign against child abuse - child labour slavery,trafficking and

abduction.

* Campaign for conduct of EIA, EE / ARs, and,MOU etc to mitigate and remedy environmental and social impacts / consequences of oil exploitation in Bakassi territory.

* Capacity Building for volunteers

* Gender balance ( equality)

* Micro enterprises for sustainable economic development.

PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED WITH DATE / SPONSORS

* Assisted to draft Memorandum of Understanding between Bakassi Natives Assembly and the Moni Pulo Petroleum Ltd - 2002 - self community sponsored

* Campaign against teenage pregnancy at ArchibongTown 2002 to date - self sponsored.

* Organised talks on conflict resolution for Bakassi Youth Asoc. 2003 - self sponsored.

* Community Education on protection and preservation of forest resources from

illegal loggers in Bakassi territory 2003 to date - self sponsored

* HIV / AIDS education / awareness in Amoto Community 2004 to date - self sponsored.

* Sensitization / education of Bakassi People to seek peaceful means by employing UN instrument of self determination to resolve conflict between Nigeria and Cameroun 2004 - self / traditional rulers’ council sponsored.

PROJECT PLANNED / FUTURE PLAN

* Community Need Assessment

* Community Education on HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care for the

vulnerable group

* Baseline study within maritime territorial waters

* Campaign against teenage pregnancy and Female Genital Mutilation

* Community economic empowerment through micro credit scheme

* Community education on preservation and conservation of mangroves,

fisheries and prawn

* Campaign against unfriendly fishing practices within the Coastal Region of

the Niger Delta

* Conflict Resolution and Peace building advocacy

* Organisation and Community Development

* Education of youth on the consequences of drugs addiction and abuse

* Employment of legitimate means to remedy violation of Human, Economic,

Social, Cultural and Political Rights

* Media outreach / advocacy

* Environmental Protection against oil exploitation and exploration activities

by oil corporation.

* Skills Acquisition - soapmaking, vaseline, detergent powder, body and hair

cream,

* Ridding Bakassi’s shoreline of unwanted plants- nypa palm and invasive

species

* Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Evaluation / Audit

Reports as well as Memorandum of Understanding Campaign

* Coastal Community sustainable fish smoking kiln project

* Campaign against illegal timber lumbering in the mangrove zone.

* Guidance and Counselling Practice in schools.

* Establishment of information and documentation centre

AREA OF ASSISTANCE

* HIV / AIDS Education / Awareness, prevention ,voluntary confidential

testing, treatment and care.

* Capacity Building

* Taching the methodology for assessing, monitoring and conserving

biodiversity in mangrove ecosystems

* Managing our mangrove resource

* Exchange programmes

* International Human Rights Internship Programme

* Materials and Resources:Computer/Printer and Assesories,Digital camera,

copies, educational materials, general support

* International Collaboration and Advocacy

* Means of Transportation( A vehicle and two 75HP engine speed boat and

30 life jackets)

* Monitoring, Evaluation and Impact Assessment of HIV / AIDS epidemic

* Coastal Community sustainable fish smoking kiln projects

* Campaign against Teenage pregnancy and Female Genital Mutilation

* Education of Youth on the consequence of drug addition and abuse

* Community education on preservation and conservation of mangrove,

fisheries and prawns

* Campaign against unfriendly fishing practise within the coastal Region of

the Niger Delta

* Campaign against illegal timber lumbering in the Niger Delta mangrove

rest.

* Campaign for environmental impact Assessment and Environmental

Evaluation / Audit report.

* Skill Acqucisition - soap making, detergent,vaselines, powder, body and

hair cream

* Micro credit scheme for women and unemployed Youth.

SOURCES OF FINANCE

As a Community Based, Non - Governmental, Voluntary and not - for - profit making Organization, BEMI’s Management does not receive subvention from Government. BEMI generates its fund from the underlisted sources to fund its activities.

* Annual subscription and levies from members

* Fines and dues

* Donations and grants

* Endowment

* Special and General Supports

* Projects sponsorship

* Interest on saving account, investments and deposits

· Any other sources as may be determined by the Executive Committee.

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE (ORGANIOGRAPH) OF BEMI

The chain of command in the organisation adopted is the bottom - top approach.Authority from General Assembly through to the Executive Management Committee where implementation of every policy resides.

1. GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2. PATRON/ADVISORY/TRUSTEE BOARD

3. GOVERNING BOARD

4. EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

The activities, projects and programmes of the organisation are handled by a formidable term of experience and sound people in community voluntary service as stated here under:

OROK EDEM ENEYO :Executive Director (male) holds Dip (Banking &Finance)Dip(Dataprocessing),HND(Accountancy), PGD(Environmental Protection Management) He has attended many capacity building training,Conflicts Resolution and Peace building and Coastal Ecosystem Management Training as well as Community Mobilisation skills etc. He is a political / social, community and human rights activitist.

AUGUSTINE EDET OKON: (Male) Deputy Director (Male) holds B.Sc (Banking and Finance).He has been working in the mangrove / coastal marine ecosystem

ETIM EFFIOM EDEM: (Male) Organisation Secretary holds Dip (physics /computer)

Hon (Mrs) EDISUA USANG ISO: ( Female) Women Affairs Officer.Holds NCE, B.Ed(Special Education), MA

EMMANUEL EFFIOM EDEM: (Male) PRO/ Director of information holds Diploma

PASTOR EFFIONG OKON EFFIONG: (Male)Finance officer / treasurer holds Adv. Dip, BA (Theology)

MRS MBANG JOSEPH EKORO : (Female)Gender officer holds RN, RM, B.NS (Nursing )

MR EYO OKON EYO: (Male)Youth Development Officer holds Diploma

MRS GRACE B. I . EDET : (Female) Legal Adviser holds BA English /Linguistic

ELIZABETH ETIM ENE: (Female) Secretariat Assistant holds Dip Secretary studies