ERA/FoEN hosted Representatives and leaders of the Artisan Fishermen Association of Nigeria from the five Niger Delta states, who were victims of the Shell Bonga oil spill at a press conference held in Benin City.
They called on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to prevail on multi-national oil giants in putting an end to the environmental degradation and pollution in the region; and take responsibility for the destruction they had caused over the years.
The fishers lamented that the continuous effect of the activities of oil companies had not only destroyed their primary source of livelihood but also posed a serious threat to the people’s health.
Speaking through their lawyer, our Executive Director, and winner of the 2022 Goldman Environment Prize for Africa, Chima Williams, the group sought a workable solution to the environmental despoliation arising from operations of the oil companies.
Chima commended President Buhari for the positive steps in environmental protection and preservation over the years, He appealed to the President through an open letter, to ensure that petroleum extractive companies were compelled to live up to their responsibility of restoring the environment. He urged the government to mandate relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of Government to work with select Civil Society Organizations, Community leaders, divest Multi-National Oil Companies, and investing Domestic Oil Companies to work out an Environmental Remediation Bond amount to be deposited by both the divesting and investing entities before divesting or investing”.
“A situation where we currently have the multinational oil companies running away from their responsibilities of restoring the Nigerian environment to the way it was before their extractive adventures, restituting citizens, whose livelihoods pattern have been either distorted or dislodged by the dislocation of their societal fabrics in the name of divestment, should also be addressed, and operations discouraged until the needful is done.
“I believe that as a listening father, you have always been attending to the downtrodden masses of Nigerians, especially the fishermen victims of the Shell Bonga oil spill. I believe you will bring them succor before your administration winds up.”