‎By Emmanuel Ikpe, Uyo
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‎Coalition of civil society organizations, youth groups, community advocates, academic scholars and media in Akwa Ibom have petitioned the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission to address cases where corporate organizations are profiting from Gas flaring and pollution while host communities bear the cost.
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‎Addressing journalists just after a peaceful demonstration and presentation of the petition letter to representative of Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission in Eket, Eket LGA on Friday by Network Advancement Program for Poverty and Disaster Risk Reward,Helen Bassey Eyo, the coalition which was convened by Clement Isong Foundation with support from Actionaid Nigeria under the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) II, says the exercise was part of activities to commemorate the 2026 World Environmental Day with a call to end gas flaring, defend rights and build future.
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‎According to them, Gas flaring penalties exceeding $10.4 million dollars became payable on OML 13 alone between 2021 and 2023. They therefore called for accountability of $270 million dollars in outstanding penalties owed to host communities from 2021 to 2025. “nationally, oil companies paid $646 million dollars in Gas flare penalties in 2025, the highest in five years, yet Nigeria flared 301.3 million scf of Gas in 2024, up from 278.3 million in 2023, and did not meet its 2025 zero-flare target”.
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‎The Akwa Ibom Extractive Justice Alliance noted that in communities like Ikot Town, Elekpon and Atabrikang in Eastern Obolo LGA of the State Gas has been burning continuously since NEPL/NOL began production on OML 13 in May 2024. Eight villages in Eastern Obolo have no electricity yet OML 13 holds over five trillion cubic feet of Gas. The energy being burned over these communities could instead be used to power them.
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‎Speaking to newsmen, the Director, Clement Isong Foundation, convener of Akwa Ibom Extractive Justice Alliance on behalf of the 15 CSOs including academia, media, women and youths groups noted that in Ibeno LGA of the State, Network Exploration and Production Limited continues to flare gas at Mkpanak with documented impact on air, water and soil across Ibeno, Onna, Eket and Esit Eket. “rain water in Ibeno is no longer consumable, Itakabasi community has been lost to coastal erosion accelerated by environmental degradation. Seplat Energy which acquired Mobil Production Nigeria Unlimited from ExxonMobil in December 2024, now operates OMLs 67, 68, 68 and 104 in Akwa Ibom, inheriting an operational history that includes over fifty years of environmental liabilities that coastal communities are still waiting to see them addressed”, they added.
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‎Accordingly, the alliance have asked President Tinubu to reverse the presidential executive order 9 of February 13, 2026 which suspended all Gas flare penalties remittance into the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund and and redirected them to the Federation Account. “the Order 9 has remove a financing mechanism established under the PIA 2021 specifically to support environmental remediation and community development in host communities. AKEJA is calling for this to be reversed and for the original framework to be restored”.
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‎Meanwhile, the Civil Society Organizations have stated that if their demands are not met as at when due, they will pull out all their members to protest to the office the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission with stiff penalties to ensure their plights are giving desire attention.

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By David Owei,Bayelsa

Stakeholders of some Niger Delta communities have added their voices to the growing calls for the end to gas flaring in Nigeria.

The stakeholders who are from communities affected by environmental pollution and degradation are also advocating renewable energy as an alternative to fossil fuels.

The communities made their position known at Global Week of Action,
organized by the Quest for Growth and Development Foundation under the theme “Kick the Polluters Out”, held in Port Harcourt Rivers State at the weekend.

Speaking at the town hall meeting, which brought together community leaders, civil society representatives, and traditional rulers, Barr. Mrs. Comfort Uche Agumagu, the woman leader of Oromeruezimgbu Community in Rivers State called on the government to accelerate the shift to renewable energy.

She demanded responsible environmental practices from oil multinationals who she blamed for extensive pollution of the environment.

She said; “I have learnt the harmful effect of pollution, especially gas flaring. Most of us were not aware of these things.

“Proper sensitization should be done so that the public will be fully aware of the dangers.”

Mrs. Agumagu issued a strong call to the Rivers State House of Assembly to prepare a bill that would ensure proper cleanup of other communities beyond Ogoni land and hold polluters accountable.

She commended Quest for Growth and Development Foundation for the sensitization programme, admitting that many residents had been living with the dangers of pollution without knowing it.

Mr. Chukwudi Ebony Johnson, a representative of ONELGA (Ogba–Egbema–Ndoni Local Government Area), praised the organisers while urging them to take the campaign to a higher level.

“I want to encourage the organisers to extend this programme to the state government,” Johnson said, signaling the need for policy-level engagement with Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration.

Royal Chief Ambassador Magnus, the paramount ruler of Erewa village and a stakeholder in Gokana Local Government Area, commended the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) and the government for their efforts in Ogoni land.

“I commend HYPREP for taking their time to do what is right for the Ogoni people,” he said.

He however advised the government on a fundamental shift.

“I want also to advise government on the switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy to avoid further damage on the environment,” Chief Magnu stated.

Coordinator of the Quest for Growth and Development Foundation, Mr. Smith Nwokocha, explained the rationale behind the town hall meeting, stressing that community voices must not be silenced.

“The main purpose of the town hall meeting is to ensure that the voices of common people are heard in holding polluters accountable.

“The multinationals and government have a duty to protect the oil host communities from damage to their health and livelihoods,” Nwokocha said.

He reiterated the foundation’s position on energy policy, calling for a decisive break from fossil fuel dependency.

“We are calling on the government that instead of constant oil drilling and gas flaring, there is an alternative source of energy – which is renewable energy.

“It is safer for the environment, and they should invest in it for the betterment of the people.”

The Global Week of Action is an annual mobilisation coordinated by civil society groups worldwide to demand climate justice and corporate accountability.

Rivers State, the heart of Nigeria’s oil industry, has long suffered from gas flaring, oil spills, and environmental pollution, with communities in Ogoni, ONELGA, and other local government areas bearing the brunt of decades of extraction without adequate remediation.

While the Ogoni cleanup under HYPREP has made some progress, speakers at the event argued that neighbouring communities remain neglected and demand a comprehensive, statewide approach to environmental restoration.

By David Owei

The Nembe communities at Okpoama and Ikensi in Brass and Nembe Local Government Areas (LGAs) respectively have bemoaned recent oil leaks and subsequent pollution from Oil Mining Lease (OML 29) oilfields.

It was learnt that the oil leak from an underwater pipeline at Ikensi was discovered on Thursday by residents who raised concerns over negative impact of the spill on the environment.

The ongoing underwater crude oil pipeline leakage near Ikensi community, was noticed at about 6.45 am on Thursday and reported to the operator of f the oilfield.

Both officials of the oil firm and oil spill regulator confirmed the incident but said that they were working on an official statement to be issued in due course but yet to d9 so.

OML 29 is operated by Nembe Explorationwnd Production Ltd formerly Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Limited.

Chief Clarkson Obiakpa, a Chief of Opu Nembe
explained that community residents who first detected the leak report that crude oil is actively discharging crude into surrounding waterways with no visible containment or emergency response deployed at the time of reporting, raising immediate fears of widespread ecological contamination and threats to fishing-based livelihoods.

“The spill was discovered early on Thursday morning around 6:45 am. Crude oil is still flowing into our waterways. No response team has arrived.

“Our rivers, fishing grounds, and drinking sources are already being affected. We are deeply concerned about our survival and livelihood.” Obiakpa said.

He recalled that this latest incident comes shortly after a marine vessel spill on the Atlantic coastline, affecting Okpoama, Diema and Twon-Brass in the neighbouring Brass LGA, where large volumes of crude oil reportedly escaped into surrounding waterways during a transshipment operation between a vessel and a tanker.

According to Chief Edwin Otiete-Goli, a community leader: “This spill has devastated our waters and our means of livelihood. Our fishing grounds are polluted, and our ecosystem is under serious threat. We call for immediate accountability, full remediation, and justice for our people who depend entirely on these waters for survival.”

Aiteo acquired the OML 29 field and the 97 kilometer Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL) for $ 2.4 billion in 2015 following divestment by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC)

The operator of the OML 29 oil block discarded the NCTL which hitherto evacuated crude to the Bonny Export Terminal due to oil theft and vandalism and resorted use of barged and small vessels to translated and oil to a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) for export.

This development, an interim operational plan pending linking the oil wells via pipelines to the FPSO has been fraught with frequent operational leaks from transloading of crude to the FPSO

When contacted for a response, on Thursday evening, a Public Affairs Official at the oil firm, Nembe E & P said the company was working on a statement.

“An official statement will be sent soon,” he said.