Atlantic Post

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YENAGOA, Nigeria — In a significant move reflecting the escalating environmental concerns in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta, the South-South Governors’ Forum, under the newly appointed leadership of Bayelsa State Governor Senator Douye Diri, has fervently called upon the Federal Government to broaden the scope of the ongoing Ogoni cleanup initiative to encompass other polluted areas within the region.

This appeal underscores the pressing need for comprehensive environmental remediation across the Niger Delta, a region plagued by decades of oil-induced ecological degradation.

The governors’ demand was articulated during a recent meeting at the Government House in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State’s capital, where Senator Diri was unanimously elected as the chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum. Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, was appointed as the vice chairman.

The motion for Diri’s nomination was moved by Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and seconded by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

In his acceptance speech, Governor Diri emphasised that his new role is a call to higher service, pledging to serve the forum and the region diligently.

He highlighted the collective responsibility of all South-South governors to advance the region’s development, stating, “Working together, we have all resolved that our region will not fail. We have seen other regions working while our region was quiet.”

The forum’s objectives, as outlined by Diri, include fostering greater synergy among member states and advancing regional investments in critical sectors such as security, agriculture, education, power, environment, tourism, and youth empowerment through sports, ICT, and entrepreneurship.

He stressed the importance of speaking with one voice in light of the rapidly changing national and global landscape, suggesting that by leveraging each state’s strengths and resources, targeted initiatives fostering sustainable development and prosperity could be designed and implemented.

One notable area of proposed collaboration is the establishment of South-South regional flight connections to ease air travel within the zone, thereby enhancing regional integration and economic activities.

In their remarks, Governors Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Senator Bassey Otu (Cross River), Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), and Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers) commended Governor Diri for hosting the meeting and setting the tone for actionable plans with defined delivery timelines.

They acknowledged that the meeting was long overdue and emphasised the necessity for the region to work together to forge a robust economy beyond oil and gas. The governors also noted that a unified stance would signal to the federal government that the South-South region deserves significant attention and investment.

Reflecting on past efforts, the governors expressed disappointment that previous meetings, particularly under the BRACED (Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, and Delta) Commission, had not yielded the desired results.

They expressed hope that under Diri’s leadership, the forum would chart a new course for the region, urging members to set aside political affiliations to achieve their collective objectives.

In a communique read by Governor Diri, the forum expressed support for the ongoing tax reforms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration but urged the president to extend the proposed Value Added Tax (VAT) sharing to other areas of derivation, such as oil and gas.

They argued that the law on oil derivation prescribes a minimum of 13% and called on the federal government to consider increasing the derivation percentage to benefit the states in the region further.

The governors also appreciated the president for the award and commencement of the coastal road project but demanded that it equally commence from the Calabar axis, as this would enhance connectivity and stimulate economic development in the region.

While thanking President Tinubu for the ongoing work on the East-West Road, they stressed the need for expedited efforts to ensure its early completion.

A critical aspect of the communique was the call for the federal government’s intervention in extending the ongoing remediation of Ogoniland to other polluted environments in the Niger Delta.

This demand aligns with longstanding appeals from environmentalists and community leaders who have consistently highlighted the widespread environmental degradation across the region.

Human and environmental rights activist, Alagoa Morris, Deputy Executive Director of the Environmental Defenders Network, has been a vocal advocate for this cause.

In a paper presented at the Angiama Heroes Remembrance Day and Awards in Bayelsa State, Morris emphasised the need for the federal government and oil industry operators to embark on a comprehensive cleanup and remediation of hundreds of legacy spill sites in Bayelsa and other Niger Delta states.

He stated, “I use this opportunity to call on the Federal Government to extend the ongoing cleanup in Ogoni to other Niger Delta states to ensure all legacy spill sites are cleaned up.”

The Niger Delta has long been a focal point of environmental activism due to the extensive pollution resulting from decades of oil exploration and production.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) conducted a comprehensive assessment of Ogoniland, revealing severe public health and environmental impacts.

The report emphasized the need for swift action to prevent the pollution footprint from spreading further and exacerbating the already tragic legacy for the Ogoni people.

In response to the UNEP report, the Nigerian government established the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (Hyprep) to oversee the cleanup efforts. However, the initiative has faced significant challenges.

A confidential U.N. investigation revealed that contractors selected by Hyprep lacked relevant experience, and soil samples were sent to unqualified laboratories.

Additionally, cleanup audits were hindered by interference from within the agency. Former Environment Minister Sharon Ikeazor attempted to address the inefficiencies and potential corruption but was replaced, and the U.N. has since severed its consultancy ties with HYPREP.

The Niger Delta remains heavily contaminated, with local communities suffering from the environmental catastrophe.

The call by the South-South Governors’ Forum to extend the Ogoni cleanup to other polluted areas in the Niger Delta is not only timely but also essential for the sustainable development of the region. The environmental degradation has had far-reaching consequences, including loss of livelihoods, health challenges, and social unrest.

The South-South Governors’ Forum’s renewed push for environmental justice signals a potentially explosive political showdown with Abuja. For decades, the Niger Delta—Nigeria’s economic heartbeat—has suffered extreme environmental degradation from unregulated oil exploration, pipeline leaks, and gas flaring.

Yet, despite billions of dollars in crude oil revenue flowing to the federal government, affected communities remain trapped in an ecological nightmare.

The call for an expanded cleanup resonates with long-standing grievances. While the Ogoni cleanup remains an unfinished project riddled with allegations of corruption and incompetence, the governors argue that its selective implementation ignores the suffering of millions across other polluted states.

From Bayelsa’s Bodo Creek to Delta’s Forcados, the region is littered with toxic spill sites that have poisoned water sources, wiped out fisheries, and exposed entire generations to cancer-linked pollutants.

The Politics of Environmental Neglect

The federal government’s handling of environmental remediation in the Niger Delta has long been a subject of controversy. Successive administrations have made grand promises, yet little action has materialised beyond the Ogoni initiative.

The governors’ renewed demand raises uncomfortable questions: Why has Abuja failed to implement a comprehensive cleanup for the entire region? Why is the Niger Delta—a region that sustains Nigeria’s economy—treated with such disregard?

Observers argue that the exclusion of other polluted sites from federal intervention is not just an environmental issue but a political one. The South-South remains a stronghold of opposition politics, and many believe that the region’s marginalisation in national development policies is intentional.

The governors’ latest demand, if ignored, could fuel renewed agitation or even embolden separatist movements that argue that the federal government is exploiting the region without offering fair compensation.

Environmental Devastation: The Numbers Don’t Lie

The environmental crisis in the Niger Delta is well-documented. A 2011 UNEP report on Ogoniland found that some communities had benzene levels in drinking water 900 times above the World Health Organisation’s safety limits. But Ogoni is only a fraction of the problem.

In Bayelsa, a 2021 study by the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) found that at least 1.5 million barrels of oil have been spilled in the state since 1956.

Delta State, home to Warri and Forcados, has suffered continuous contamination from pipeline ruptures.

Rivers State, beyond Ogoni, remains one of the most polluted areas in Africa due to ongoing spills and illegal refining operations that worsen air and water pollution.

Despite these alarming statistics, the federal government has yet to implement a Niger Delta-wide cleanup programme.

The $1 billion Ogoni cleanup—managed by the controversial Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP)—has made minimal progress, and experts warn that without systemic reforms, expanding the initiative may replicate its failures on a larger scale.

Governors vs. Abuja: A Brewing Showdown?

Governor Douye Diri’s leadership of the South-South Governors’ Forum is already shaping up to be more confrontational than his predecessors’. His insistence on action beyond communiqués signals a readiness to challenge the federal government on crucial issues affecting the region.

With the governors now demanding a redistribution of oil revenue and greater control over regional development, Abuja’s response—or lack thereof—could have far-reaching consequences.

The forum’s demand for an extended cleanup is not just about environmental justice; it is a test of the federal government’s commitment to equity. Will Abuja listen, or will it continue to treat the Niger Delta as a mere revenue source while neglecting its people?

For now, the South-South governors have drawn their battle lines. The question remains: will the federal government respond, or will it risk igniting yet another wave of unrest in Nigeria’s oil-rich but environmentally devastated heartland?

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