WARRI/Nigeria: Renowned environmental rights activist and development advocate, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, PhD, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and other relevant stakeholders to urgently intervene in the worsening coastal erosion threatening the existence of Obuguru Community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.
Mulade, who is the National Coordinator of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) and National Treasurer of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), said the oil-bearing community in Ogulagha Kingdom is facing an environmental disaster as large portions of its land continue to be swallowed by the Atlantic Ocean surge at the River Forcados Estuary, placing lives, homes and livelihoods at grave risk.
Expressing deep concern over the situation, the environmentalist warned that Obuguru could face total extinction if immediate and practical measures are not taken to address the devastating effects of coastal erosion.
“I am deeply disturbed by the worsening coastal erosion currently threatening the existence of the oil-bearing host community, Obuguru, in Ogulagha Kingdom, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, as a result of the devastating Atlantic Ocean surge at the River Forcados Estuary,” he said.
Mulade noted that the relentless ocean surge has continued to wash away vast portions of land, threatening ancestral homes, fishing settlements, critical infrastructure and the economic survival of residents.
“As an environmental rights advocate, I cannot remain silent while our people continue to face the painful reality of environmental destruction and displacement,” he stated.
He therefore appealed to all relevant government agencies at the local, state and federal levels to urgently implement shoreline protection and erosion control measures to safeguard lives, property and means of livelihood in the affected community.
The CEPEJ National Coordinator also decried what he described as the neglect and abandonment of Obuguru and neighbouring oil-producing communities by the former Nigerian Agip Oil Company, now operating as Oando Surgenal Limited.
According to him, despite decades of crude oil exploration and production activities at the now-abandoned Beniboye Flow Station located in the area, the communities have been left to grapple with environmental degradation, economic hardship and a severe lack of basic infrastructure.
“It is unfortunate that after extracting enormous wealth from the land of our people, the community has been abandoned to suffer environmental degradation, erosion, economic hardship and absence of basic infrastructure without adequate compensation, remediation or sustainable development,” he lamented.
Mulade further highlighted the plight of Beniboye, Isiayegbene and Okuntu communities, describing their condition as unacceptable given their significant contributions to Nigeria’s oil economy.
He said the communities have continued to bear the adverse impacts of decades of oil exploration activities, heavy marine traffic, wave actions and other environmental hazards associated with oil production operations.
“These communities have suffered enough. Despite their immense contributions to the Nigerian economy through oil production, the people lack basic social amenities, shoreline protection infrastructure, quality healthcare services, potable water, educational facilities and meaningful empowerment opportunities,” he said.
The environmental advocate called on the Federal Government and Oando Surgenal Limited to convene an urgent roundtable meeting with affected communities to address longstanding environmental and socio-economic concerns arising from years of resource exploitation.
He also demanded the engagement of internationally recognised valuation experts to assess the environmental damage, economic losses and future risks associated with the abandoned Beniboye oil facilities.
According to him, such assessments should form the basis for adequate compensation, remediation and restoration programmes for affected communities.
Mulade further urged the Federal Government and Oando Surgenal Limited to immediately commence a comprehensive end-of-life and decommissioning programme for all abandoned oil facilities in the area in line with global environmental standards and best practices.
“Our people cannot continue to suffer after sacrificing so much for the economic survival of Nigeria. Environmental justice, fairness, remediation and sustainable development must prevail,” he stressed.
He reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for vulnerable communities across the Niger Delta and pledged to continue championing the cause of environmental justice, peace and sustainable development in the region.
