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Civil Society Groups Urge FG To Halt Oil Asset Divestments in Niger Delta
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The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) has called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to stop all ongoing and planned divestments of oil assets in the Niger Delta region by oil companies.
This demand was outlined in a petition titled “Urgent Call to Halt All Divestment in the Niger Delta, Including Shell’s Refused Sale of SPDC Shares”, addressed to President Tinubu on December 16, 2024, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas on December 18, 2024.
During a press briefing in Abuja, Mr. Isaac Botti, Programmes Coordinator of Social Action Nigeria, and Reverend Nnimmo Bassey, Founder of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), highlighted the severe environmental and social impacts of oil exploration in the Niger Delta. They stated:
“We are here as representatives of Nigerian society organizations, community leaders, and concerned citizens to address a grave and urgent issue that threatens not only the people of the Niger Delta but the environmental and economic interests of Nigeria and the social future of all Nigerians”, he said.
The Coalition expressed concern over the divestment process by International Oil Companies (IOCs), particularly Shell’s proposed sale of its remaining shares in the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to the Renaissance consortium, as well as similar moves by companies like TotalEnergies.
They warned that these actions could undermine national interests and exacerbate environmental damage in the region.
The Coalition detailed extensive damage caused by decades of oil exploration, including:
- Water Contamination: High levels of hydrocarbons in water sources have rendered them unsafe for drinking.
- Soil Degradation: Continuous oil spills have destroyed farmlands, threatening food security.
- Biodiversity Loss: Entire ecosystems have been decimated by oil spills.
Citing reports by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Bayelsa State Oil and Environment Commission (BSOEC), the Coalition provided alarming statistics. UNEP revealed benzene levels 900 times above safe limits in Ogoniland, while chromium levels in Bayelsa were over 1,000 times higher than World Health Organization (WHO) standards.
The BSOEC estimated it would cost at least $12 billion to remediate Bayelsa over 12 years, with a broader cleanup across the Niger Delta requiring $100 billion. Comparatively, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the U.S. saw BP pay $60 billion for damages from a single incident.
The Coalition emphasized that past divestments by Shell, ENI/AGIP, and ExxonMobil have left unresolved environmental liabilities:
- Shell’s sale to Aiteo in Nembe resulted in worsening pollution without proper cleanup efforts.
- ExxonMobil and ENI/AGIP similarly failed to ensure adequate environmental management post-divestment.
These cases have set a troubling precedent of IOCs avoiding accountability for environmental degradation.
The Coalition urged the federal government and the National Assembly to take immediate action by:
- Halting all IOC divestments until historical environmental liabilities are addressed.
- Ensuring inclusive consultations with host communities before divestments.
- Mandating that Shell, TotalEnergies, and other IOCs fund cleanup and remediation efforts.
- Upholding the regulatory independence of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
- Creating an Environmental Restoration Fund to support long-term remediation.
They also demanded profit-sharing opportunities for host communities and the inclusion of gas flaring cessation in divestment agreements.
The Coalition stressed that approving Shell’s SPDC share sale without addressing environmental and social liabilities would undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty and well-being.
“Approving Shell’s or TotalEnergies’ divestment in its current form without addressing the profound environmental and social costs would be a grave injustice to the people of the Niger Delta and could lead to significant unrest in the region.”, it stated.
The Coalition reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring environmental justice and called on President Tinubu and the National Assembly to prioritize the welfare of Nigerians over corporate interests.
Tension has heightened in Uvwie Kingdom, Delta State, following a peaceful protest by scores of indigenes against the proposed visit of the Olu of Warri Kingdom, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, to Ugbonuohworu (also known as Ugbolokposo), a community located in Uvwie Local Government Area.
The protesters, comprising members of the Egweya r’Uvwie (women’s group), youths, elders and other community stakeholders, urged the Federal Government and the Delta State Government to intervene, insisting that any visit by the Olu to the community should not take place without the consent of the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Emmanuel Sideso Abe I.
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Uvwie Says No to Olu Visit,” “Uvwie Is Not Itsekiri Land,” “We Need Peace in Uvwie Kingdom,” “There Is One King in Uvwie Kingdom,” and “Ugbonuohworu Is a Uvwie Community,” the demonstrators marched peacefully from Erovwie Community in Effurun, chanting solidarity songs.
Addressing journalists during the protest, Chairman of Erovwie Community, Chief Thomas Eyejewefe, JP, said the demonstration was prompted by what he described as claims by some Itsekiri groups that Ugbonuohworu belongs to them.
According to him, Ugbonuohworu is part of Etche Erovwie in Uvwie Kingdom, and the proposed visit by the Olu of Warri has heightened concerns among residents.
“We have always embraced peace, but information available to us indicates that the Olu of Itsekiri intends to visit Ugbonuohworu. As peace-loving people, we do not believe such a visit should take place without due regard to the traditional institution of Uvwie Kingdom,” he said.
Eyejewefe appealed to both the Federal and Delta State governments to intervene to prevent any action capable of creating tension in the area.
“We have only one traditional ruler in Uvwie Kingdom—the Ovie of Uvwie. We are calling on the authorities to ensure peace prevails by addressing this issue before it escalates,” he added.
He further maintained that Ugbonuohworu is surrounded by Erovwie, Okoribi, Ebrumede, Okuatata, Ugbomoro and Iteregbi communities, which he said are all within Uvwie Kingdom.
Also speaking, Chairman of Ugbomoro Community, Hon. (Chief) Ese Winfrey Ohwojaraye, described the proposed visit as capable of generating avoidable tension if not properly managed.
“We are appealing to the Delta State Government to intervene. We believe dialogue and respect for traditional institutions are necessary to preserve the peace that Uvwie Kingdom has enjoyed,” he stated.
Ohwojaraye urged Uvwie indigenes to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding despite their concerns, stressing that the protest was intended to draw the attention of government and relevant stakeholders to the matter.
Other community representatives, including Ejedegba Abrahama Mamekpe and Elizabeth Egamurumu, also expressed opposition to the proposed visit, aligning themselves with the position taken by the protest leaders.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Palace of the Olu of Warri nor the Delta State Government had issued an official response to the concerns raised by the protesters.
A member of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Aisha Yesufu, has said she begged former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, to become Peter Obi’s running mate four years ago.
Yesufu disclosed this in a post on 𝕏 on Wednesday, while reaffirming her support for the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket.
The activist said some political developments take longer than expected, but insisted she would not be distracted.
“Some things in life take longer than they should. Like the saying goes, better late than never.
“4 years ago I literally begged @KwankwasoRM to be Peter Obi’s running mate.
“Now that it is happening, you think I am going to be distracted? No way. Let’s get it done,” she wrote.
In other news, Yesufu challenged the Department of State Services (DSS) over its involvement in the prosecution of African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.
The DSS had said it filed charges against Sowore under the Cybercrimes Act over a social media post in which he allegedly referred to President Bola Tinubu as “this criminal.”
The agency also maintained that Sowore’s remand followed court proceedings, adding that it neither arrested him nor opposed his bail.
Reacting to the development, Yesufu said Tinubu should seek redress in court if Sowore’s statement is false or defamatory, rather than involving the DSS.
She also criticised DSS’s focus on the matter amid the country’s security challenges.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign the President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged terrorism financing and money laundering involving about $2.53 million.
The EFCC filed a 12-count charge against Bodejo on June 22, 2026.
In a statement on Wednesday, the commission’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said Bodejo was accused of accepting multiple cash payments from a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sa’idu Abubakar, without routing the transactions through a financial institution.
One of the counts alleged that Bodejo accepted $100,000 in cash from Abubakar on January 11, 2022, in Abuja.
The EFCC also alleged that Bodejo received $200,000 on January 21, 2022; $980,000 on February 7, 2024; and $500,000 on March 20, 2024.
The charge read, “That you, BELLO ABDULLAHI BODEJO, on or about the 7th day of February 2024, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly and willfully, without lawful authority or excuse, accept a cash payment of the sum of Nine Hundred and Eighty Thousand United States Dollars (USD $980,000.00) in physical currency from one SA’IDU ABUBAKAR… without routing the said transaction through a financial institution as required by law.”
The commission further accused Bodejo of possessing funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.
EFCC said the alleged offences are punishable under the Money Laundering laws. Bodejo is expected to be arraigned once the court fixes a date.
“We Have One King”: Uvwie Women, Elders Oppose Planned Olu of Warri Visit
Armed Men Are Vigilantes And Hunters – Police Dismiss Viral Katsina Video
I Begged Kwankwaso To Be Peter Obi’s Running Mate – Aisha Yesufu
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