By Paul Williams
Despite calls for environmental justice for oil-bearing and impacted communities in Nigeria and the Niger Delta, these communities continue to endure oil spills, gas flaring, polluted water, and land degradation.
The National Civil Society Coalition for Oil, Gas and Mining Host Communities on Saturday warned of worsening environmental conditions in Nigeria’s extractive regions and called on government and industry to take urgent action.
The National Coordinator of the group, Lawrence Dube, said in a statement on June 6, 2026, as part of World Environment Day activities, that host communities continue to bear the brunt of oil spills, persistent gas flaring, poisoned water sources, degraded land, abandoned mines, and collapsing livelihoods — even as enforcement of environmental rules remains weak.
He said, “There can be no sustainable national development where the communities that produce Nigeria’s natural resource wealth continue experiencing pollution, poverty, exclusion, and environmental injustice.”
While recognising the economic importance of oil, gas, and minerals to Nigeria, the coalition warned that extractive host communities are among the most vulnerable to climate impacts and environmental degradation and must be protected as Nigeria moves to meet global climate challenges.
The group urged the Federal Government, the National Assembly and regulatory agencies to step up enforcement of environmental laws and to ensure polluters remediate damaged environments.
They specifically called on oil firms to implement the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and the Host Communities Development Trust framework with full transparency, community participation and robust environmental protection.
The coalition urged mining firms to honour the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007 and Community Development Agreements, carry out responsible mining, and restore affected lands.
They warned against any weakening of host-community protections in proposed reforms to the Petroleum Industry Act, insisting that amendments must strengthen — not dilute — community rights, environmental safeguards and development benefits.
The statement also demanded protection for environmental defenders and insisted on the meaningful inclusion of women, youth and local communities in environmental governance and resource management decisions.
Reaffirming its commitment to environmental sustainability, corporate accountability and peaceful coexistence, the coalition said urgent action is needed now to halt ongoing degradation and secure sustainable development for the communities that supply Nigeria’s natural wealth.Contact: National Civil Society Coalition for Oil, Gas and Mining Host Communities, Abuja.
