By Obiabin Onukwugha
The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has called for a legislative actions that will provide the conditions with which International Oil Companies (IOCs), will divest their assets.
ERA/FoEN stated that 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 at a webinar discussion with the theme “ Time for a legislative Pathway on IOC Divestment in the Niger Delta” which was attended by civil society groups, and media practitioners across the country, recently.
Speaking on the topic, Williams stated that the divesting IOCs are not totally leaving Nigeria as they want the public to believe, but are only moving their operations offshore where their operations cannot be monitored and their environmental crimes can remain hidden.
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Williams who regretted the negative impact of oil exploratory activities in the Niger Delta region, noted that ancestral lands have been taken away from the people, waters polluted, farmlands destroyed and livelihoods eroded in these communities, subjecting them to untold poverty.
He said: “Oil Companies are at liberty to dispose their assets as permitted by the law, but as they have caused damage to the people and their environment, there are requirements that must be met. The environment must be returned to status quo, and the livelihood of the people restored, before divesting.
“They must settle the crisis they have caused with the divide and rule style they introduced to the communities, as one of the antics they used to over shadow the voice of the people. Rather than being a blessing to Nigeria, oil has become a curse to the people of Nigeria, unlike other oil producing countries in the world.”
While reacting to questions of the benefit of divestment to the country as the assets are being sold to domestic oil companies, Williams opined that the oil multinationals could not manage the environmental issues caused by their operations, despite their financial war chest and technological muscle, stressing that this questions the ability of these indigenous companies to handle the environmental crisis with their limited financial power and technological strength.
He called on the National Assembly to start a legislative process that will hold IOCs accountable for the environmental damages they have caused.
He also called for the establishment of an environmental restoration fund, to tackle the issues of environmental pollution before proposals for divestment are concluded.
