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By Joel Anekwe
Oilwatch Nigeria says it is intensifying the struggle to hold the Nigerian government and international oil companies accountable for the environmental degradation and human rights violations caused by oil and gas industry activities in the Niger Delta region.
It said it would work assiduously to take holistic approach to engage the Nigerian state and international oil companies on issues of environmental pollution, climate change, divestment, food security, health, water and many others as they concern the environment and people of the region in order to free the people and their environment from destruction by extractive industries.
The decisions were part of the communiqué issued by the group – a network of NGOs and civil society organizations, on resistance to fossil fuel extraction activities in Nigeria at a general meeting in Port Harcourt.
Participants at the meeting also resolved to: “Resist and reject all forms of legislation by the National Assembly that fail to address the historic injustices and human rights violations against the Niger Delta region by the Nigerian State and International Oil companies.
“Work in partnership and solidarity with fishers and ecological defenders to resist and halt every form of destructive extractive activities in the coastal and marine environment of Nigeria.”
The group which comprises about 17 independent organizations observed that “continuous oil and gas exploration and exploitation in Nigeria, most especially in the Niger Delta region where oil has been extracted for over 50 years has remained without any sustainable benefit to communities in the region.
“The negative impact of the oil and gas industry on the people and environment of the Niger Delta region is a life threatening and near extinction experience and thus there is need for urgent attention.
“For over almost 20 years of democratic rule, the hopes and expectations of the Niger Delta region that government will address the human rights and environmental degradations in the area have been dashed.
“Environmental pollution caused by illegal refining and oil theft is a leading cause of health hazards in communities in the region,” the group further observed.
They added that despite the dangers posed by gas flaring to the environment and people of the Niger Delta region, government was paying lip service to the menace and at the same time collecting penalties from oil companies for gas flaring, while the communities in the Delta continue to suffer from the consequences.
“Due to the destructive impact of oil and gas extraction on the environment and people of the Niger Delta region, the Federal Government should pay more attention to environmental remediation and livelihood restoration in the area and declare the region an ecological emergency zone,” the communiqué’ stated.
