Abuja, Nigeria — Civil society organisations (CSOs) and religious leaders from the Niger Delta have called for an immediate suspension of oil exploration in Ogoniland, citing worsening environmental degradation and unfulfilled commitments to critical United Nations recommendations.
The demand was made during a two-day human rights workshop convened by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) in Abuja.
Stakeholders, including representatives from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), voiced strong opposition to renewed oil exploration activities, arguing that they were being pursued despite unresolved pollution and deteriorating living conditions in host communities.
The discussions emphasized the exclusion of vulnerable groups—such as women, children, and persons with disabilities—from key policy decisions and environmental remediation efforts.
International oil companies (IOCs) also came under criticism for their failure to adequately compensate affected communities and their continued disregard for environmental regulations.
A core recommendation from the workshop was the urgent need for the Nigerian government to suspend all oil exploration in Ogoniland until the full implementation of the 2011 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report.
The resolution was endorsed by Most Rev. Benebo Manuel of the Christian Council of Nigeria and Rev. David Ugolor of ANEEJ, among other prominent figures.
CSOs insist that prioritizing environmental restoration and community welfare is essential before any further exploration can be considered.
By Taiwo Olatinwo | April 3, 2025
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