ERA/FoEN Urges Legislative Action to Hold Divesting IOCs Accountable
In a recent development, the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has called upon the National Assembly to take decisive legislative action. This action aims to ensure that International Oil Companies (IOCs) are held accountable for environmental damages in the Niger Delta region. ERA/FoEN also advocates for the establishment of an Environmental Restoration Fund to address pollution issues before any divestment by these oil companies.
Chima Williams, the Executive Director of ERA/FoEN, emphasized that IOCs operating in Nigeria must not be allowed to divest their operations without addressing the environmental and human rights abuses they have caused in local communities. Speaking at a webinar titled “Time for a Legislative Pathway on IOC Divestment in the Niger Delta,” Williams highlighted concerns that divesting IOCs may not truly exit Nigeria but rather move offshore where their activities can evade scrutiny, potentially hiding environmental violations.
ERA/FoEN is leading campaigns against IOC divestments in the Niger Delta due to the severe impacts of oil exploration on local communities. Williams expressed deep concern over the loss of ancestral lands, water pollution, destruction of farmlands, and resulting poverty affecting these communities.
Williams stressed that while oil companies have legal rights to divest assets, they must first address the damages caused to people and the environment. The restoration of the environment and livelihoods of affected communities must be a priority before any divestment.
Regarding the purported benefits of divestment to Nigeria, especially as assets are sold to Nigerian companies, Williams raised questions about the ability of indigenous companies to handle environmental crises effectively, given their limited financial and technological resources compared to IOCs.
Tijani Abdulkareem, Executive Director of the Socio-Economic Research and Development Center (SERDC), highlighted growing tensions in Bauchi and Gombe States over oil discoveries. Abdulkareem emphasized the need for increased engagement from civil society organizations, community-based groups, and the media to protect human rights and the environment in northern communities affected by oil exploration.
The situation underscores the ongoing struggle between economic benefits and environmental concerns, calling for robust regulatory frameworks and community empowerment to ensure sustainable development in Nigeria’s oil-rich regions.
