Amnesty calls on oil companies to fund Niger Delta cleanup

Amnesty International Nigeria has asked oil companies in Nigeria to support a strong environmental restoration fund for cleaning up the Niger Delta.

Isa Sanusi, who is the director of Amnesty International Nigeria, made this request on Tuesday in Port Harcourt. He spoke during a report launch called “Nigeria: Lifting the Lid.”

The report looked into what the organization called 60 years of careless oil operations by a particular oil company in the Niger Delta.

Mr Sanusi said that oil companies need to accept their role in causing environmental damage. They should also help with efforts to restore affected communities. He urged the federal government to ensure that oil firms contribute to a well-funded restoration fund. This fund should help clean up polluted areas according to international standards.

“The contribution of a super-fund must be enough to fully clean up the Niger Delta to the highest international standards. We are calling for a clean-up programme to restore the Niger Delta environment,” he stated.

Mr Sanusi also called on the government to carry out thorough audits of both active and inactive oil infrastructure owned by fossil fuel companies. He believes the results of these audits should be shared with affected communities to ensure transparency and accountability.

He further urged for studies on how decades of oil pollution have affected human rights, especially the health of residents, water quality, fisheries, and agriculture.

According to him, the report highlights alleged failures to protect communities and the environment. He linked these failures to putting corporate profits above human lives. He encouraged residents, especially those living in oil-producing communities, to read, discuss, and share the report to raise awareness and demand accountability.

“Those responsible for oil pollution and environmental damage must be held accountable for their actions and follow the law,” he said.

Mr Sanusi also dismissed claims that host communities alone are to blame for oil pollution and environmental damage. He noted that Amnesty International will keep pushing back against such narratives and demand accountability from both companies and relevant authorities.

The Amnesty director revealed that the organization plans to write to President Bola Tinubu. They will send a copy of the report and ask the federal government to carry out its recommendations.