Two communities in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, Eteo Community in Eleme Local Government area of Rivers State and Okoro-Utip Community in the Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, have jointly called upon multinational oil companies to halt persistent oil spills and gas flares in their territories.
In a resolution reached at the end of a Farmers Community Town Hall meeting on “Land Right and Fight Against Land Grabbing,” organised by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and held at Okoro-Utip Community Hall, Ibeno, Akwa Ibom State, representatives of the communities highlighted the dire consequences of oil pollution on their environment and livelihoods.
Chief Enyina Wilson, the secretary of Okoro-Utip village council, voiced the community’s anguish over the environmental degradation caused by Exxon Mobil’s activities. He emphasized the urgent need for environmental justice, demanding the restoration of their polluted lands to their original state and an end to gas flaring, which poses health hazards to the residents.
Similarly, Gabriel Olomi from Eteo Community, Rivers State, recounted the devastation caused by an oil spill in June 2023, urging for environmental restoration and financial compensation for affected individuals who have lost their means of livelihood.
The Director of Climate Change and Environmental Awareness at the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, Akwa Ibom State, Mrs Ini Umo, assured the communities that the state government has strengthened environmental policies to address their concerns and urged them to refrain from activities harmful to the environment.
Dr Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director of HOMEF, urged the oil communities to advocate for themselves and seek solutions to their problems. He underscored the communities’ status as victims and stressed the importance of environmental and social justice for all oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta.
Furthermore, Bassey highlighted the risks posed by derelict and abandoned oil wells in the region, urging governments to ensure proper decommissioning to prevent future environmental disasters.