A coalition of civil society organisations has urged the Federal Government to take immediate action to address decades of oil pollution in the Niger Delta, accusing multinational oil companies of abandoning their toxic legacy without accountability or clean-up.
In a joint statement signed by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Spaces for Change, among others, the coalition said the government’s silence amid growing international concern signalled complicity in the continued suffering of local communities.
The intervention follows a strongly worded communication by the UN human rights experts, who expressed grave concern over the divestment strategies of oil majors such as Shell, Eni, TotalEnergies, and ExxonMobil. They warned that Nigeria was being used as a testing ground for divestment without remediation, citing repeated oil spills that have poisoned water sources, destroyed farmland, and endangered lives.
“The repeated oil spills in the Niger Delta over decades have severely undermined the right to life, a clean and healthy environment, safe drinking water, health, food, housing, cultural rights, and access to remedy,” the UN experts stated.
While Shell, Eni, and the governments of the UK, Italy, and the Netherlands have responded, Nigeria has yet to issue any official statement. Civil society leaders described this silence as deeply disappointing and urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to act with urgency.
“Nigeria has a proud record of signing human rights treaties. But paper commitments must be honoured in practice. Failure to act will bring dishonour to Nigeria and deepen the suffering of its people,” the CSOs said.
The organisations demanded that the government disclose the terms of all oil company divestments, reveal the level of funding allocated for environmental remediation in comparison with independent estimates of actual costs, and establish enforceable standards for environmental restoration.
They also called for full compensation and meaningful participation of affected communities in clean-up efforts and for an immediate halt to the reopening or licensing of oil wells in the Niger Delta until comprehensive remediation and restitution are completed.
They warned that the government’s continued inaction would worsen environmental degradation, erode public trust, and damage Nigeria’s international reputation, noting that the global community is watching closely.
“The ball is now in the government’s court. It must demonstrate that it stands with its people, not with polluters,” the groups declared.
