A coalition of Civil Society Organisation (CSO) has urged the National Assembly to hold a public hearing to discuss the planned divestment by Shell and other companies from onshore operations in the Niger Delta.

The CSOs, in a meeting to reflect on Ken Saro Wiwa’s struggles for environmental justice and emerging issues that have implications on the environment in the Niger Delta region, convened by the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, noted that the region, where most oil exploration activities are going on, remains extensively polluted and the people’s livelihoods badly devastated.

They emphasised that despite stakeholders’ outcry and calls by communities for urgent action by oil companies to address the problems, very little is being done to address the situation.

Speaking at the meeting, ANEEJ Acting Executive Director, Loe Atakpu, said that major oil companies have abandoned initial climate commitments for short-term profit, because of increased global demand for crude oil, saying companies have failed to provide realistic plans that will ensure global comfort.

However, the coalition, in a resolution, called on the Nigerian government to disapprove the divestment plan and sale of its onshore facility by Shell until community concerns are addressed.