Groups including civil society organisations, regulators, community leaders, and activists have asked the Federal Government to declare an environmental emergency in the Niger Delta. They want urgent action to stop pollution in the oil-rich region.
This demand was made during a community meeting about environmental rights and climate justice. The event took place in Ikot Ebidang, Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, and was organised by the Peace Point Development Foundation.
People from the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), traditional rulers, youth groups, and people with disabilities attended the event. They spoke about how oil spills and gas flaring have seriously harmed the health, environment, and livelihoods of the local people.
Speakers said that money alone cannot fix the damage caused by oil companies. Communities need tools to report pollution, get legal help, and speak out to demand justice.
Umo Isua-Ikoh, who founded the Peace Point Development Foundation, said pollution in the region is getting worse. He called for urgent teamwork between all groups to tackle the crisis.
He urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the Niger Delta, blaming constant oil spills, gas flaring, and environmental injustice for the growing damage.
Isua-Ikoh expressed concern about how oil exploration has destroyed the environment and made life harder for people living in the affected areas.
He said that oil companies pollute the land, air, and water while claiming they are developing the region. This pollution has taken away people’s basic rights and made them poorer and more stressed.
He added that the current situation in the Niger Delta is not fair or sustainable and needs urgent attention from the nation.
He warned that if nothing is done, the Niger Delta might soon become too polluted to live in.
“What’s happening is a slow death of both our people and the environment,” he said. “We can’t continue like this. We need national action. This is about survival now, not just oil.”
The activist said that even though the region provides much of Nigeria’s oil wealth, it is still underdeveloped, ignored, and abandoned.
He said the Peace Point Development Foundation has worked hard to help communities in Akwa Ibom stand up for their rights and fight against environmental injustice.
The event in Ikot Ebidang aimed to help local people understand their environmental rights and prepare them to demand justice.
One of the main results of the meeting was the launch of Community Environmental Monitors. These people will watch for pollution and report it.
Isua-Ikoh said that empowering local people is the key to long-term success in fighting pollution.
He also said there must be teamwork between NGOs, government agencies, the media, traditional rulers, youth, and others to stand strong against environmental injustice.
“This fight is not for one person alone. We all must work together. Our future depends on the environment,” he said.
He promised that his group would keep working with affected communities, teach people about their rights, and help them speak to oil companies and the government.
“Our goal is to make sure everyone’s voice is heard in the fight for justice,” he added.
Akan Odungide, an Assistant Director from NOSDRA who attended the event, said the agency is ready to work with local communities to ensure fairness and proper oil spill management.
He explained that for NOSDRA to do its job well, communities must quickly report oil spills and take part in investigations.
He said one key process is the Joint Investigation Visit (JIV), which finds out where a spill came from, how big it is, and who is responsible.
“Communities must not keep quiet. As soon as a spill happens, they must alert the oil company and then inform NOSDRA. That’s how the process starts,” he said.
He urged community leaders to educate their people on how to participate in oil spill investigations.
He said that if communities don’t take part, oil companies might avoid paying for the damage.
Odungide said NOSDRA tries to be fair and open, but delays in reporting and lack of coordination often make things difficult.
He welcomed support from groups like Peace Point Development Foundation to close those gaps.
He praised the creation of Community Environmental Monitors, saying it was a good way to give power back to the people.
He said NOSDRA is open to training these monitors so they can help detect and report pollution early.
He also called for regular town hall meetings where oil companies, regulators, and communities can talk, solve problems, and work together better.
“When communities know the process, it helps us do our job and ensures justice is served. We are here to help, but we need your voices,” he said.
During a panel discussion, environmental advocate Edidiong Dickson said the Federal Government’s control over oil resources causes neglect and allows oil firms to act badly.
He said excluding state and local governments from oil regulation encourages exploitation and pollution.
Dickson argued that the pollution problem is not just technical—it’s a failure of leadership and governance.
He said that unless resource control is shared more fairly, companies will continue to pollute without being held accountable.
He said communities are victims not only of pollution but also of weak institutions.
“The system values profits over people’s lives. That’s why we need to take back power and protect our land, water, and health,” he said.
He called for community-led efforts to protect the environment, saying that no policy can succeed without involving local people.
He said lasting solutions must include community action, cooperation between agencies, and fairness.
“Environmental justice is more than cleaning up pollution. It’s about restoring dignity and correcting years of wrongs,” he concluded.
Community leader Harry Akpan spoke about the suffering of people in Ikot Ebidang because of oil spills and gas flaring.
He said farms, rivers, and water have been polluted, making it hard for people to farm or fish, which are their main jobs.
He said pollution has harmed both the environment and the mental well-being of families.
He accused some companies of working with local elites to silence real community voices.
He called for an independent trust fund to support pollution victims, saying cash payments alone are not enough to fix the harm.
Akpan thanked the event organisers for bringing this important issue to the people and praised the new monitors as a good step.
He urged the community to unite and use the tools they’ve been given to protect their environment and hold polluters responsible.
Akpan asked the government and others in power to listen, take action, and help restore the environment.
“We’ve waited too long. We won’t stay silent anymore. Our lives matter too,” he said.
At the end of the meeting, a joint statement was released. It called for better education about the environment, stronger community involvement in regulations, and partnerships with the media and civil society.
The community agreed to start using data to record oil spills and to use tools like lawsuits and social media to demand justice and fight for the climate.
