Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has promised to implement the recommendations and other matters arising from the final report of the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission.

He said that the government had resolved to sue International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the state over unmitigated oil pollution for over six decades.

The governor also said that the government might pursue legal redress outside the shores of Nigeria.

“After a review of an advance copy of the report, I can affirm that it captures the essence of our trials while outlining a hopeful pathway toward resolution. The insights will serve as a beacon, guiding us toward actionable solutions and inspiring us to restore dignity and opportunity to our people.

“The report appropriately titled ‘An Environmental Genocide: Counting the Human and Environmental Cost of Oil in Bayelsa, Nigeria,’ is truly alarming,” he said.

Diri, who spoke, yesterday, at the Government House in Yenagoa during the presentation of the report to the State Executive Council by Chairman of the Commission, John Tucker Mugabi Sentamu, said he would immediately create a dedicated body to oversee the implementation of the report.

The Bayelsa governor expressed gratitude to his predecessor, Seriake Dickson, whose vision led to the setting up of the commission on March 26, 2019, saying that the event marks a momentous milestone in the state’s history, especially in the pursuit of environmental justice.

He further said: “This convergence serves as a formal presentation of the findings after robust interactions with various stakeholders, including the University of Bradford and the House of Lords in the United Kingdom (UK) last year, by the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission where I affirmed my resolve to act decisively on the recommendations and seek partners where necessary to ensure seamless implementation.

“After a review of an advance copy of the report, I can affirm that it captures the essence of our trials while outlining a hopeful pathway toward resolution. Your insights will serve as a beacon, guiding us toward actionable solutions and inspiring us to restore dignity and opportunity to our people.

“Bayelsa bears 25 per cent of Nigeria’s oil pollution. The sheer scale of devastation paints a dire picture, disconcertingly reminiscent of an environmental Armageddon. Our once-thriving ecosystems, now ravaged by pollution, threaten the very survival of our communities.

“These oil companies often prioritise their profit over international best practices. The International Oil Companies and the Federal Government have left our land and people to a gloomy fate.”