A coalition of prominent civil society organizations, including Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Miideekor Environmental Development Initiative, Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED), Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Good Governance Team Nigeria (GGTNIGERIA), and Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre, among others has publicly condemned the Nigerian government under President Bola Tinubu for its silence following a United Nations report.
The report sharply criticizes major oil companies for leaving behind environmental devastation in the Niger Delta without adequate cleanup. This issue hits close to home in Rivers State, where communities have long grappled with the consequences of oil extraction, mirroring the struggles of neighboring regions.
It is worth noting that the coalition released a joint statement over the weekend. They expressed outrage that multinational firms such as Shell, Eni, TotalEnergies, and ExxonMobil are divesting from onshore operations while leaving behind severe environmental damage.
For decades, oil spills have contaminated water sources, ruined farmlands, and harmed public health in the region. Residents have lost their means of living, with fishing and farming becoming nearly impossible in many areas. The groups emphasized that this divestment amounts to evading responsibility, turning Nigeria into a testing ground for irresponsible corporate exits.
United Nations human rights experts recently sent a formal letter raising serious alarms about these practices. The communication pointed out widespread violations, including threats to the right to life, clean water, health, food security, housing, and cultural heritage. It also highlighted the inadequate responses from both the companies and involved governments.
The letter was directed not only to Nigeria but also to the home countries of these corporations, such as the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Italy, France, and the United States. While some recipients, including Shell, Eni, and several European governments, have replied, Nigeria’s federal authorities have remained silent. This absence of engagement has fueled accusations of indifference or even complicity in prolonging the suffering of affected populations.
Spokespersons for the coalition described the situation as a betrayal of Nigerian citizens. They argued that the government’s quiet stance sends a troubling message, ignoring the pleas of communities that have borne the cost of oil wealth without sharing in its benefits. In places like Rivers State, where oil infrastructure is dense, families have dealt with polluted rivers and health issues like respiratory problems and skin diseases for generations.
Similar stories echo across the Delta, where oil slicks have turned once-vibrant ecosystems into wastelands. The groups rejected corporate replies as mere words without action, noting that past promises of remediation have often fallen short, leaving communities to fend for themselves.
To address these grievances, the coalition outlined specific demands for the Nigerian government. They called for full transparency on the terms of all oil divestments, including detailed funding plans for environmental restoration. Independent assessments should verify cleanup costs to ensure adequacy.
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Clear regulations must be set and enforced for restoring damaged lands and waters. Affected communities deserve compensation and active involvement in planning and executing remediation efforts. Until thorough cleanups are done and justice is served, the groups urged a pause on reopening old wells or issuing new licenses in the Niger Delta.
The statement also reminded leaders of Nigeria’s obligations under international human rights agreements. Signing treaties is one thing, but fulfilling them requires real steps on the ground. The coalition warned that continued inaction could tarnish the country’s reputation globally and worsen the plight of its people.
They appealed directly to President Tinubu to prioritize the voices of those impacted, stressing that the international community is paying close attention.
It bears mentioning that this outcry comes at a time when environmental justice is gaining traction worldwide, with similar calls for accountability in other resource-extraction zones. For Nigerians in the Delta, including those in Rivers State, the hope is that pressure from civil society and the UN will finally prompt meaningful change.
The government now faces a critical choice: side with its citizens or allow polluters to escape unscathed. As one coalition member put it, the moment demands decisive leadership to heal the scars of the past and build a sustainable future.
