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Friends of the Earth finds the new global biodiversity framework “not fit for purpose”

Montreal – The new Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) announced today fails to lay the groundwork for the transformational change needed to address the biodiversity crisis. The Chinese presidency adopted the text despite clear opposition from the Democratic Republic of Congo, ignoring a process the COP15 president himself had laid out.   Friends of the Earth International […]

ERA/FoEN Report Exposes Reasons for Oil Corporations Divestment in Niger Delta

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has published a policy brief on International Oil Companies Divestment in the Niger Delta & Local Communities’ Concerns in response to the growing number of oil corporations quitting onshore oil facilities in the Niger Delta region. The report noted that the term divestment in Africa has been distorted […]

Currently Hiring an ADMIN. Assistant

Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) is a Nigerian advocacy non-governmental organization founded on January 11, 1993, to deal with Nigeria’s environmental and human rights issues. An ERA is the Nigerian chapter of Friends of the Earth International (FoEI). The organization is dedicated to defending human ecosystems regarding human rights and promoting environmentally […]

Oil and the Niger Delta: Chima Williams and His struggle for environmental justice.

In the aftermath of disastrous oil spills in Nigeria, environmental lawyer Chima Williams worked with two communities to hold Royal Dutch Shell accountable for the resultant widespread environmental damage. On January 29, 2021, the Court of Appeal of the Hague ruled that not only was Royal Dutch Shell’s Nigerian subsidiary responsible for the oil spills […]

ERA/FoENigeria leads FoE Africa Delegation to ECOWAS

Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria led the Friends of the Earth Africa (FoE Africa) delegation on Saturday 18th June 2022 to seek the intervention of the ECOWAS Parliament in the exploitative activities and human rights violations by industrial plantation companies whose operations in the region are causing untold impacts on indigenous peoples and […]

FG, Compel Oil Firms To Restore Nigeria’s Environment – ERA/FoEN

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 […]

Chima Williams, ERA/FoEN Executive Director, and Six others Win Goldman Environmental Prize

Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) Executive Director, Barrister Chima Williams, has been named among the seven winners of this year’s prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize. A statement released by the Goldman Environmental Foundation listed other winners to include Niwat Roykaew from Thailand; Marjan Minnessma, the Netherlands; Juliet Vincent, Australia; Nalleli Cobo, United States […]

GROUPS COMMEND SENATE AS IT PLEDGES TO ENFORCE STRICT GMOs REGULATION IN NIGERIA: SLAMS GM CROPS AS UNSUSTAINABLE AND UNSAFE

Reacting to Food Farm News made available to the public on Tuesday the 5th, of April 2022 that the ‘Senate insists on GMOs thorough regulation’[1] groups including GMO-Free Nigeria, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) and others have applauded the Senate for considering […]

ERA Hosts a Community Dialogue in Akwa Ibom

The project team, Waste Management and Pollution Monitoring Program of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) visited the Akpayak community today being the 8th day of February 2022. The visit was for a Community Dialogue session as a follow-up to the project ERA, currently implemented in Akwa Ibom and Edo State with a […]

Statement delivered during the 7th session of negotiations for a UN Legally Binding Instrument on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights, Monday October 25th 2021

Mr. Chair-Rapporteur, I am Ubrei-Joe Mariere from Environmental Rights Action – Friends of the Earth Nigeria, speaking on behalf of Friends of the Earth International, members of the Global Campaign to Dismantle Corporate Power. Today we are living profound systemic crises that threaten our life and the planet. The climate crisis, the biodiversity crisis, the […]

ERA/FoEN, 15 other groups carpet AGRA, reiterate support for Agroecology

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) and 15 other Food Sovereignty campaign organisations have urged Global North Governments to stop all financial and political support for the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and other initiatives promoting the Green Revolution. They were encouraged instead to channel their support to agroecology if […]

Memoranda submitted to the Senate National Public Hearing and the House of Representatives Zonal Public Hearings on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

On the 2nd through the 4th of June 2021, Barr. Chima Williams, the acting executive director of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria presented these Memoranda BELOW to the Senate National Public Hearing and the House of Representatives Zonal Public Hearings on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. […]

NIGERIANS REJECT GMOS: Don’t Experiment With Us

Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) in collaboration with the Health of Mother Foundation (HOMEF); together with representatives of farmers, consumers, civil society organizations, scientists, youth and women groups, organized a Nation-wide rally, to publicly denounce the unchecked admission into Nigeria of genetically modified (GM) crops and products. According to Mariann Bassey – […]

Another Equipment Failure Oil Spill From Agip’s Idu Well 11

  Spill Official [JIV] Ref No: 2021/ LAR/028/058 Location: Egbebiri community environment, Biseni Kingdom. GPS Coordinates:  Elev: 14m, N05°16.323’, E006°32.986’ [from previous visit]  Occupation: Fishing and farming main occupation. Date of Spill: 7th /8th May, 2021 Date of ERA/FoEN site visit: 9th May, 2021 [Sunday] Report by: Alagoa Morris INTRODUCTION: The African Charter on Human […]

ERA/FoEN, HOMEF, GMO-Free Nigeria Alliance Applaud House of Reps Decision to Investigate the Introduction of GMOs in Nigeria

Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and the GMO-Free Nigeria Alliance have commended the House of Representatives on the resolution to comprehensively investigate the introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into Nigeria and for a halt on approval of new products pending the completion of that investigation. […]

ERA/FoEN CALLS FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION TO HOLD DIVESTING IOCS IN THE NIGER DELTA TO ACCOUNT

The Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN)believes the international oil companies operating in Nigeria have lost the right to simply divest in Nigeria, as they cannot be allowed to leave the communities they have subjected to environmental and human right abuses, without addressing the issues. ERA/FoEN Executive Director, Chima Williams stated this […]

ERA/FOEN DECRIES SHELL  REIGNITING OF FLARES IN GBARANTORU

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria [ERA/FoEN] has called on the Federal Government to compel Shell to stop the flares in the Gbarantoru community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of  Bayelsa State. ERA/FoEN call comes in the wake of a visit to the community by a team from the Yenagoa office led by […]

Shell Re-Ignites Flares in Gbarantoru Community

Highlight: Flares in the middle of the community, impacting houses, causing hearing difficulties Location: Gbarantoru community, Ekpetiama Kingdom, Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. Date of Visit: Saturday, March 1, 2024 Introduction ‘’ All peoples shall have the right to a general satisfactory environment favourable to their development’’ Article 24, African Charter on Human and […]

ERA/FoEN takes the Zero Waste Campaign to A Secondary School in Edo State 

Today, ERA/FoEN took the #ZEROWASTE campaign to some young female adults in Edo State. It was emphasized at the interactive session that the  “Zero Waste” management strategy is a panacea to the climate crisis, environmental pollution, and a clean and healthy environment. The strategy seeks to maximize recycling, minimize waste, reduce consumption, and ensure that […]

ERA/FoEN, Bayelsa Community, Sign Agreement On Solar-Powered Light System Project

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) and the Ondewari community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the installation of solar-powered lighting system in the riverine settlement. While the Executive Director of ERA/FoEN, Chima Williams signed the agreement for the environmental […]

Press release: NO TO GM WHEAT!

Food sovereignty alliance from Africa, Latin America, and Asia approaches seven UN Special Rapporteurs for urgent intervention to block cultivation and trade of GM wheat HB4 On 26 January 2024, a submission was made in English, Spanish, and Portuguese to seven United Nations Special Rapporteurs1 dealing with human rights, the environment, food, toxic chemicals, water […]

FIELD REPORT:  Shell preparing to “shell” Gbarantoru environment again with noxious fumes

Highlight: The leadership of Gbarantoru has expressed serious concerns about the planned gas flare installation in the community. Location: Gbarantoru community, Ekpetiama Kingdom, Yenagoa Local Government, Bayelsa State Date of Visit: Saturday 20 January 2024 INTRODUCTION: Gbarantoru community is host to Shell Petroleum Development Company [SPDC] oil wells and oil/gas bearing pipelines. The community has […]

ERA/FoEN URGES FG TO HOLD SHELL ACCOUNTABLE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES BEFORE DIVESTING

The Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has called on the Nigerian government to put the brakes on Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) divestment plans and ensure it pays for its environmental crimes in the Niger Delta. This demand was informed by SPDC’s plans to sell its onshore facilities to a conglomerate […]

Brief Report on Pesticides Hazards and Human Rights

Mariann Bassey Orovwuje, Deputy Director of Environmental Rights Action/ Friends Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) and the Coordinator of the Food Sovereignty Program, Friends of the Earth Africa (FoEA)  made a presentation on  “Pesticide, Food Safety and Human Rights (Instances of Litigations, Workers Rights & Roles of Advocates/Right Defenders.),”  on a  training event which was hosted by the […]