Environmental activists, civil society groups, and community representatives from across the Niger Delta have called for an urgent review of Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to set a definite deadline for ending gas flaring in the country.
The demand was part of the resolutions adopted at the Climate Justice Assembly held on Friday in Benin City, during the launch of the campaign themed “Yasunize and Ogonize the World for Socio-Ecological Wellbeing.”
The event was organised by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF).
In a joint declaration signed by Mr. Stanley Egholo, Cadmus Atake-Enade, and Kome Odhomor, the participants described the current provisions of the PIA as “unjust and environmentally destructive,” accusing the law of “failing the region by permitting gas flaring and unfairly blaming communities for pipeline protection.”
They urged the National Assembly to amend the Act by removing the powers of regulatory agencies to grant gas-flaring permits and to enact legislation that would fix a firm date for ending gas flaring—allowing exceptions only in rare and clearly defined emergencies.
“Gas flaring fines should be equal to the market value of the gas and directed to host community funds,” the statement read.
The coalition further demanded that:
Communities should no longer be held responsible for protecting oil installations.
Laws criminalising community protests should be repealed.
Host communities, rather than oil companies, should manage development funds.
They also called for a comprehensive audit of the environmental, health, and economic impacts of oil and gas extraction across the Niger Delta, referencing the 2011 UNEP Report on Ogoniland, which documented severe pollution and environmental degradation.
“The destruction across the entire Niger Delta requires immediate clean-up, restoration of damaged ecosystems, and reparations for 64 years of harm,” the group declared.
The coalition also demanded reforms in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), urging the Federal Government to publish the commission’s forensic audit report and prosecute those found culpable.
“Projects must be based on community-approved needs assessments. Prioritise completing abandoned projects over starting new ones,” the resolution stated.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director of HOMEF, said the campaign aligns with global calls for climate justice and community-centered ecological recovery.
“Continuing extraction while promoting cleaning up is total foolishness. The major drivers of the climate crisis are greed and convenience,” he said.
“This meeting feeds into frontline communities’ demands ahead of COP30 in Brazil. Although we are not expecting much from COP, we must not give up on advocacy and our demands.”
Bassey added that the “Yasunize and Ogonize” social media campaign seeks to connect local environmental struggles in Africa with similar movements in Latin America and Southeast Asia.
Other speakers at the event included Dr. Osagie Obayuwana, Celestine Akpobari of the Miideekor Environmental Development Initiative (MEDI), and representatives of the Edo Civil Society Coalition (EDOCSO) and Gelegele community.
Academic perspectives were provided by Dr. Ofuani Sokolo of the University of Benin, who spoke on “Gender, Climate Change, and Community Mobilisation,” while HOMEF’s Stanley Egholo and Cadmus Atake-Enade led sessions on “Understanding NDAC Manifesto and NSAC Charters” and “Centering Community Voices for Climate Justice.”
