By Abbas Nazil
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has vowed to lead a team of lawyers in taking legal action against oil companies responsible for pollution and abandonment of host communities in the Niger Delta.
Falana made the declaration on Friday in Port Harcourt during the Ken Saro-Wiwa 30th Memorial Lecture, which marked the 84th posthumous birthday of the late environmental activist.
He condemned the continued neglect of communities that produce the oil sustaining Nigeria’s economy, stating that they deserve better living conditions and access to basic amenities instead of enduring poverty and environmental degradation.
The event, organized by a coalition of environmental civil society groups, brought together activists, policymakers, and community leaders who renewed their demand for justice, cleanup, and restoration of the Niger Delta environment.
Falana accused multinational oil companies of exploiting Nigeria’s natural resources while leaving behind devastated lands and impoverished people.
He emphasized that it was time for the government and its agencies to act decisively against companies violating environmental standards.
Other speakers, including environmentalist Nnimmo Bassey, urged authorities to hold defaulting firms accountable and ensure full cleanup of Ogoniland before considering any resumption of oil operations in the region.
Civil society representatives echoed that the legacy of Ken Saro-Wiwa remains a strong symbol for justice, equality, and environmental restoration in the Niger Delta.
They warned that reopening oil activities without proper remediation would dishonor Saro-Wiwa’s sacrifice and those of his comrades who fought for a cleaner, fairer Niger Delta.