By Olawale Sanusi
Communities across the Niger Delta have called for urgent ecological restoration of polluted lands and water bodies, urging governments and stakeholders to move beyond documenting environmental degradation and focus on rebuilding livelihoods and restoring damaged ecosystems.
The call was made at a one-day Community Assembly organised by Oilwatch International in Port Harcourt with the theme, “Reclaiming Ecological Integrity in the Niger Delta: From Environmental Damage to Ecological Restoration; The Role of Host Communities in Reclaiming Their Land.” Coordinator of Oilwatch International and Programme Manager of Environmental Rights Action, Kentebe Ebiaridor, said while years of advocacy had exposed the devastating impact of oil spills, gas flaring and pollution, the priority must now shift to ecological restoration. He added that recommendations from the assembly would be documented to strengthen advocacy directed at governments, lawmakers and other relevant institutions.
Chief Operating Officer of Environmental Conservation Agriculture and Rural Development (ECARD), Alagoa Morris, said consistent documentation by environmental groups had helped compel oil companies to acknowledge pollution incidents publicly. He urged host communities to keep detailed records of oil spills, including photographs, videos and Joint Investigation Visit reports, as evidence to support demands for environmental justice and remediation.
Representatives from more than fifteen oil-bearing communities, environmental advocates and civil society organisations attended the meeting to discuss community-driven solutions aimed at restoring the Niger Delta’s degraded environment.
