Environmental activists, civil society organisations, and community leaders across the Niger Delta have urged the Federal Government to set a definite deadline for ending gas flaring and to review the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to better protect host communities and the environment.
The call was part of resolutions reached at the Climate Justice Assembly, held in Benin City on Friday during the launch of the campaign titled “Yasunize and Ogonize the World for Socio-Ecological Wellbeing.”
The event was convened by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), a leading environmental advocacy group.
In a declaration jointly signed by Stanley Egholo, Cadmus Atake-Enade, and Kome Odhomor, participants criticised the current provisions of the PIA, describing them as unjust and environmentally destructive.
They accused the law of “failing the Niger Delta by allowing gas flaring to persist and unfairly holding communities responsible for pipeline protection.”
The coalition called on the National Assembly to amend the Act and remove the power to issue gas-flaring permits from regulatory agencies, replacing it with legislation that sets a clear and enforceable end date for gas flaring, except in rare emergency situations.
“Gas flaring fines should reflect the full market value of the gas being wasted and should be channelled directly to host community development funds,” the statement read.
“Remove community liability for oil facility protection, repeal laws that criminalise peaceful protests, and let host communitiesnnot oil companies—control their own development funds,” it added.
The coalition also demanded a comprehensive audit of the environmental, health, and economic impacts of oil and gas exploration across the Niger Delta.
They cited findings from the 2011 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on Ogoniland, which documented extensive pollution and ecological damage in the region.
“The scale of destruction across the Niger Delta calls for an immediate clean-up, restoration of degraded ecosystems, and reparations for over six decades of environmental harm,” the activists said.
Participants also called for far-reaching reforms in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), urging the Federal Government to release the commission’s forensic audit report and prosecute those found culpable of corruption or mismanagement.
They recommended that future projects be based strictly on community-approved needs assessments, with priority given to completing abandoned projects rather than initiating new ones.
In his remarks, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director of HOMEF, said the campaign aligns with global calls for climate justice and community-led ecological recovery.
“Continuing extraction while promoting cleanup is absolute foll.
“Greed and convenience are the major drivers of the climate crisis. This assembly feeds into the demands of frontline communities ahead of COP30 in Brazil.
”Even if expectations from COP are low, we cannot stop advocating for justice and accountability, ” he said.
He explained that the “Yasunize and Ogonize” campaign aims to link African struggles for environmental justice particularly in the Niger Delta with similar grassroots movements in Latin America and Southeast Asia.
Other speakers at the event included Dr. Osagie Obayuwana, Celestine Akpobari of the Miideekor Environmental Development Initiative (MEDI), and representatives of the Edo Civil Society Coalition (EDOCSO) and Gelegele community.
Academic perspectives were provided by Dr. Ofuani Sokolo of the University of Benin, who discussed “Gender, Climate Change, and Community Mobilisation.”
HOMEF’s Stanley Egholo and Cadmus Atake-Enade also facilitated sessions on “Understanding NDAC Manifesto and NSAC Charters” and “Centering Community Voices for Climate Justice.”
