A coalition of civil society organisations has demanded an allocation of $1 trillion from the federal government for the cleanup of the Niger Delta and compensation for lost livelihoods, before the resumption of crude oil production in Ogoniland.
The demands were tabled in a statement signed by the organisations including Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), and Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), while expressing concerns over the Nigerian government’s reported plans to resume oil production in the community.
The group described the move as a disregard for environmental justice and the rights of the Ogoni people.
They criticised the invitation extended by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to select Ogoni stakeholders for a closed-door meeting in Abuja, which according to them, is set to take place on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
The statement highlighted the historical environmental degradation caused by oil activities in Ogoniland, documented in the 2011 UNEP report, which revealed widespread pollution of land, water, and air.
The group expressed disappointment that the government has yet to fully implement the UNEP recommendations or prioritize the cleanup of the region.
The organisations, therefore demanded a halt to any plans to resume oil activities until the Ogoni people are meaningfully consulted and their environment fully remediated.
They also called for justice for environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and other Ogoni leaders executed in 1995, urging the Nigerian government to exonerate them and return the confiscated Ken Saro-Wiwa Memorial Bus sculpture.
Other demands include the immediate and transparent implementation of the UNEP report, accountability from oil companies, particularly Shell, for environmental damages and human rights violations, recognition of Ken Saro-Wiwa as an environmental hero, and transitioning to renewable energy to mitigate environmental harm.
The groups also emphasised the need to end military intimidation in the Niger Delta and ensure that all decisions involving Ogoniland respect the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC).
The statement described the government’s current approach as an affront to the fundamental human rights of the Ogoni people and a threat to sustainable development. They warned that resuming oil production without addressing past injustices would only deepen mistrust between the government, oil companies, and local communities.
The coalition also called for solidarity with the Ogoni people in their fight for justice and environmental restoration.
