Ogoni advocacy groups have called on the Federal Government,Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) and the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP),to address this environmental damage caused by oil spills in the area
The umbrella Ogoni body which includes Lekeh Development Foundation (LEDEF)and Yeraba Women Foundation (YWF), made this call at the weekend during a press conference held while marking the 2025 Ogoni Day 32nd anniversary.
They said the call was aimed at ensuring justice, equity, and environmental sustainability for Ogoni people and the Niger Delta region.
Speaking at the event , LEDEF urged SPDC to clean up the affected areas, compensate communities, and ensure total overhauling of the environment before divestment.
Addressing this concern, the advocacy group frowned at HYPREP’s slow working pace towards achieving its core goals despite the huge funding, warning against plans of carbon offset from campanies
While lauding HYPREP for its scholarship scheme for Ogoni postgraduate students, the group however lamented the health implications faced by Ogoni people due to the long exposure to the oil spillage.
Furthermore, the grassroots advocacy groups urged the Federal Government to impose fuel taxation, phase out fossil fuels, focus on renewable energy, and hold SHELL accountable for the pollution before divestment.
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Among their requests, they appealed for the establishment of the Federal University of Environment, political inclusion, and economic justice, with the aim to drive development and strengthen the communities at large.
“Our thematic areas include climate justice, energy justice, gender justice, and agricultural livelihood support.”
“To ensure a safe and healthy environment for our children and society at large.”The founder of LEDEF, Mr. Friday Nbani, recalled the damage in Ogoniland, which led to the death of many Ogonis and activists, including Ken Saro-Wiwa.
“This non-violent struggle tragically resulted in massacres and bloodshed. The Ogoni struggle for justice and against environmental degradation, political marginalisation, and economic strangulation can be traced to the early 1990s and to the establishment of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP),” Nbani noted.
Highlighting the magnitude of the effect, he said Ogoniland has been earmarked as one of the 10 most contaminated areas in the world, describing their water as unsafe for drinking, among other effects on the entire land and other Niger Delta region posing great danger to inhabitants.
