A civil society group, Kebetkache Women Development Centre, has called for the immediate expansion of environmental cleanup efforts across the Niger Delta, warning that restricting remediation to Ogoniland alone will leave many oil-producing communities exposed to worsening pollution and hardship.
Executive Director of the group, Emem Okon, made the appeal during the Dinner Night of the Correspondents’ Week organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Port Harcourt.
Speaking on the theme, “The Imperatives of Comprehensive Cleanup of the Niger Delta Environment: Role of the Media,” Okon urged the Federal Government to extend the ongoing Ogoni cleanup to other heavily polluted communities in the region.
According to her, findings by the United Nations Environment Programme showed that restoring Ogoniland alone could take up to 30 years, stressing that other affected areas cannot afford to wait that long before remediation begins.
She also challenged journalists to investigate environmental policies and expose gaps in the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, noting that many host communities lack proper understanding of the law.
Okon said independent journalism remains vital in holding oil companies and government agencies accountable while helping communities understand their rights.
Describing the human impact of pollution, she recounted testimonies from women in affected communities who complained of severe environmental and health problems linked to oil spills and contaminated water sources.
She warned that meaningful intervention should focus on environmental restoration, pollution control and livelihood support rather than symbolic projects.
