Abuja, Nigeria – (African Boulevard News) – The cost of cleaning up the oil-polluted Niger Delta region could reach $12 billion, according to a report by the environmental campaign group, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN).
According to the report, the Niger Delta region, once home to one of the largest mangrove forests on the planet, has been severely impacted by oil spills and pollution caused by decades of oil exploration and exploitation. The report notes that the region, which is rich in ecological diversity and value, is now one of the most polluted places on Earth.
The report recommends that the Nigerian government should take immediate action to restore the region’s ecosystem to prevent further harm to the environment and the health of the people living in the area. The report further recommends that multinational oil companies operating in Nigeria should contribute to the cleanup costs as part of their social responsibility to the communities they operate in.
“Cleaning up the Niger Delta is not an option, it is a necessity. The environmental degradation and pollution caused by years of oil exploration and exploitation have severely impacted the ecosystem, destroyed livelihoods, and exposed millions of people to health risks,” said Godwin Ojo, the Executive Director of ERA/FoEN.
The report highlights that the pollution caused by oil spills has resulted in the loss of agricultural land, destruction of fishing grounds, and severe health impacts, including cancer, respiratory problems, and skin diseases. The report notes that women and children are particularly at risk, as they are often the primary caregivers and exposed to pollution while carrying out their daily activities.
Despite several cleanup initiatives by the Nigerian government and multinational oil companies, the report stresses that the cleanup of the Niger Delta region must be a comprehensive and sustained effort to address the root causes of the pollution.
“The government and oil companies must take responsibility for the environmental damage caused by oil exploration and exploitation in the Niger Delta region. The cleanup efforts must be comprehensive and sustained, with the aim of restoring the ecosystem and protecting the health and livelihoods of the people living in the area,” said Nnimmo Bassey, the Director of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation.
In conclusion, the report by ERA/FoEN highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive and sustained cleanup effort in the Niger Delta region to prevent further harm to the environment and the health of the people living in the area. The report calls on the Nigerian government and multinational oil companies to take responsibility for the environmental damage caused by oil exploration and contribute to the cleanup costs as part of their social responsibility to the communities they operate in.
