A civil society organisation, We, The People, has expressed concern over what it described as the worsening environmental crisis in the Niger Delta, calling for urgent government action to end routine gas flaring and address persistent oil spills in the region.
The Executive Director of the group, Ken Henshaw, made the call during a presentation titled “Living in Danger: Health Harms of Fossil Fuel Extraction in Nigeria’s Niger Delta”, held in commemoration of World Environment Day 2026 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Henshaw said Nigeria must urgently confront the long-standing health, environmental, and social consequences of decades of fossil fuel extraction in frontline communities, warning that continued inaction would lead to further loss of lives and livelihoods.
According to him, communities in the Niger Delta have for decades lived in the shadow of gas flare stacks, with continuous exposure to toxic emissions.
“Day and night, flames have burned beside homes, schools, farms, rivers, and fishing settlements, releasing methane, carbon dioxide, particulate matter, and other pollutants into the atmosphere,” he said.
He disclosed that “over 240,000 barrels of crude oil (over 38 million litres) are spilled in the Niger Delta annually,” adding that some communities traced rising illnesses to oil spills in their environment.
He also noted that there are “over 178 active gas flare points” across the region.
Henshaw said the Niger Delta, despite being one of the most resource-rich regions globally, continues to bear the heaviest burden of environmental degradation linked to oil and gas extraction.
He added that while oil production has generated significant revenue for governments and corporations, host communities continue to suffer pollution, poor health outcomes, declining livelihoods, and inadequate access to basic services.
“Today, the people suffer respiratory illnesses, skin conditions, eye problems, declining agricultural productivity, acid rain, contaminated water sources, and the destruction of local ecosystems,” he said.
He noted that farmers report reduced crop yields, while fishermen complain of disappearing fish stocks and polluted waterways.
He also said many families live under constant exposure to gas flares that burn day and night.
According to him, gas flaring contributes significantly to global climate change, with methane described as a particularly potent greenhouse gas.
“Communities bear the immediate burden of pollution, while the resulting emissions contribute to a planetary climate emergency already affecting vulnerable populations around the world,” he said.
Henshaw also raised concerns about recent developments in Nigeria’s oil sector, particularly the divestment of onshore assets by multinational oil companies, warning that it raises questions about accountability for environmental damage.
He stressed that achieving a sustainable future requires more than policy statements, calling instead for concrete action to address environmental injustice, protect vulnerable populations, and ensure affected communities have a voice in decisions affecting their land and resources.
The group demanded an immediate end to routine gas flaring in the Niger Delta, full environmental and health remediation of affected communities funded by responsible operators, and the publication of transparent gas flaring data by operator and location.
It also called for stronger community participation in environmental governance and accountability mechanisms for post-divestment operations, including enforceable sanctions for non-compliance.
During a community panel, residents shared testimonies of environmental and health impacts of gas flaring.
A participant, Mrs. Precious Ibegwura from Egi in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, said pollution had severely affected livelihoods and wellbeing.
“What we see every day is hunger, poverty, pains, illnesses because of pollution in our land and waters.
”The situation has led to increased crime rate, miscarriages; our community has turned upside-down. Oil production has caused more damage than blessings to us,” she said.
