The Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) has berated the federal government over the flurry of approvals of proposals for divestment by oil multinationals accused by local communities of violating their environment and rights.
The group also promised to provide legal support to any community that is against divestment based on the argument that the oil multinationals have not cleaned-up, remediated or compensated victims of their operations.
EDEN in a resolution signed by its Board Chair, Barrister Chima Williams and Board Secretary, Philip Jakpor, in Benin, the Edo State capital, said that oil multinationals have operated for decades in the Niger Delta and ruined the environment and instead of taking responsibility, are now in a race to the deep waters where the federal government lacks the capacity to monitor their operations.
The resolution, which emanated from the groups’ inaugural board and staff retreat, was also an opportunity to examine the progress of EDEN’s work, especially its relevance in the environment and climate space in Nigeria and globally.
On the divestments, the group said the federal government which is supposed to stand for its people, is disregarding the calls by communities impacted by the operations of these firms for environmental justice before divestment.
The group said that no oil corporation should be allowed to divest from the delta until it takes responsibility for its toxic legacy of pollution, adding that they must also decommission abandoned oil infrastructure. It urged buyers of the toxic assets of the divesting firms to also accept the liabilities of the former owners of the onshore operation.
The group also x-rayed growing cases of mine collapses and illegal mining activities in the northern part of the country, warning that the illegal activities in the sector was akin to a time bomb causing environmental and health challenges among locals.
The group observed that in the last six months there have been about three major incidents including the Shiroro mine collapse in Niger State, which killed 50 in June 2024, the Adamawa pit collapse which killed 30 and another recent incident in Plateau State where 13 young persons died.
The resolution stated that, “Our fear that the quest to expand the nation’s revenue base through solid minerals extraction would inflict fresh wounds in our communities is manifesting by the day. The group also wants benefits to mining communities from mining revenues climbing to 10% of all accrued funds from mining operations instead of 5% approved by the government.
On a positive note, the environmental justice group expressed satisfaction over the Anti-Gas Flaring (Prohibition and Enforcement) bill, which had passed second reading at the House of Representatives.