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By Francis Sadhere, Warri
A renowned environmental rights activist and development advocate, Mulade Sheriff, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and other relevant stakeholders to urgently intervene in the worsening erosion crisis threatening Obuguru Community in Ogulagha Kingdom.
Mulade, who is also the National Coordinator of the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), described the situation as alarming and capable of wiping out the oil-bearing coastal community if immediate action is not taken.
Speaking on the environmental challenges confronting the area, the activist said he was deeply disturbed by the devastating coastal erosion caused by the Atlantic Ocean surge at the River Forcados Estuary, which he noted has continued to wash away large portions of land in the community.
According to him, lives, ancestral homes, fishing settlements, and properties are under severe threat, while the economic survival of the people hangs in the balance.
He warned that Obuguru Community faces possible extinction and mass displacement if urgent shoreline protection and erosion control measures are not implemented by the Federal, State and Local Governments.
Mulade further lamented what he described as the neglect and abandonment of the affected communities by former Eni Agip Oil Company Nigeria Limited, now operating as Oando Surgenal Limited, following decades of oil exploration activities at the abandoned Beniboye Flow Station.
He accused the company of abandoning the communities after years of crude oil extraction without adequate compensation, environmental remediation, or sustainable development initiatives.
The environmental advocate also decried the plight of Beniboye Community, Isiayegbene Community and Okuntu Community, saying the shoreline communities have continued to suffer the devastating effects of oil exploration, heavy boat traffic, wave actions and environmental degradation linked to decades of oil production operations.
He noted that despite their contributions to the Nigerian economy through oil production, the affected communities still lack basic social amenities such as healthcare facilities, potable water, educational infrastructure and empowerment opportunities.
Mulade therefore called on the Federal Government and Oando Surgenal Limited to immediately convene a roundtable discussion with the affected communities to address the long-standing environmental and socio-economic challenges confronting the people.
He also demanded the engagement of internationally recognised valuers to assess the environmental damages and losses suffered by the communities over the years, stressing that adequate compensation and remediation programmes should commence without delay.
The activist further urged the Federal Government and Oando Surgenal Limited to implement a comprehensive end-of-life and abandonment programme for all abandoned oil facilities in the affected areas 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 stated.
Mulade reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for vulnerable communities and promoting environmental justice, peace and sustainable development across the Niger Delta region.
