A coalition of Civil society organizations (CSOs) in Nigeria have demanded $1 trillion for the clean-up of Ogoniland as well as compensation for the loss of livelihoods due to what they described as “environmental degradation caused by oil extraction.”
The organizations noted that their demand stems from decades of alleged oil pollution that has severely impacted the region’s environment, health, and economic conditions of the Ogoni people.
This was contained in a statement signed by over 20 Organisations, including the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Ogoni Solidarity Forum-Nigeria, and South-South Youths Initiative among others.
Ogoniland, located in Nigeria’s Niger Delta is often in the news over past spills from oil exploration and production activities.
Oil was discovered in Ogoniland in commercial quantities in 1958, leading to extensive oil operations. The community saw numerous oil spills, with over 2 million barrels of oil polluting the area between 1976 and 1991 alone. Ongoing spillages, even after oil production ceased in the early 1990s due to protests led by the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), have continued from pipelines still running through the area.
The spills have led to significant environmental degradation, including contamination of soil, groundwater, and local water bodies. The 2011 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) detailed the extent of pollution, highlighting that some drinking water sources had benzene levels 900 times above World Health Organization safe limits, posing severe health risks to residents.
Despite commitments made following the UNEP report, clean-up efforts have been criticized for being slow and inadequate. The Nigerian government launched the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) to address this, however progress has been reportedly sluggish.
Meanwhile, reports recently surfaced indicating that Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser to the President, convened a private meeting in Abuja involving several Ogoni leaders and key stakeholders.
The purpose of this meeting was reported to be centered on the potential resumption of oil production in Ogoniland.
In response to these developments, CSOs have raised urgent concerns, sounding alarm bells over the possible risks and negative consequences that such a move could bring to the community and its environment.
In a statement issued after the Civil Society groups met in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, their organizations jointly called on the Federal Government to “halt all plans for resumption of oil extraction in Ogoniland until there is meaningful consultation with the Ogoni people and full remediation of the damaged environment.
The groups, in their demands, further said: “That not one more oil well should be drilled in the Niger Delta and the Government, and the oil companies should commence immediate and total clean-up of the region.
Other demands by the group included the earmarking of One trillion United States Dollars for immediate clean-up of the Niger Delta and compensation for loss of livelihoods, immediate review of the Military trial and execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa with other martyrs and their exoneration as well as the immediate and unconditional release of the confiscated Ken Saro-Memorial Bus sculpture held by Nigeria Customs since 2015 as well as full Implementation of the UNEP Report, among others.
The organizations noted that the contemplated resumption of oil operations in Ogoniland posed a significant threat to the fundamental human rights of the Ogoni people and negated Nigeria’s effort to tackle climate change.
“These include the right to a clean and healthy environment, the right to health, and the right to life. Any attempt to impose extractive activities without addressing these historical injustices will only deepen the mistrust between the government, oil companies, and local communities”.
