By Emmanuel Ogoigbe
A renowned environmental rights activist and development advocate, Comrade Mulade Sheriff, PhD has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, Executive Governor of Delta State and other relevant stakeholders to come to the aid of Obuguru Community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.
According to the environmentalist it has become very imperative given the terrible erosion situation being experienced by Obuguru Community in the oil-rich Ogulagha Kingdom.
“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 narrated.
“As an environmental rights advocate, the National Coordinator of the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), who double as National Treasurer of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), and a hopeful representative of the Warri Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives in the 2027 general elections, I cannot remain silent while our people continue to face the painful reality of environmental destruction and displacement.
I have observed with serious concern how large portions of land in Obuguru Community are gradually being washed away by the aggressive ocean surge, thereby threatening lives, ancestral homes, fishing settlements, properties, and the economic survival of the people. If urgent intervention measures are not immediately taken, the community faces the danger of total extinction and displacement”, Comrade Mulade emphasized.
“I therefore call on all relevant government agencies and parastatals, at all levels – Local, State and the Federal Government, to urgently take practical and proactive steps towards saving lives, properties, and livelihoods in the affected community through effective shoreline protection and erosion control measures”, he asserted.
“It is also disheartening to see the state of neglect and abandonment of the people of Obuguru Community by the former Eni Agip Oil Company Nigeria Limited, now operating as Oando Surgenal Limited, after decades of crude oil exploration and production activities at the now abandoned and moribund Beniboye Flow Station located in the community.
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 infrastructural without adequate compensation, remediation, or sustainable development.
I further decry the deplorable and unacceptable abandonment of Beniboye, Isiayegbene and Okuntu oil and gas bearing communities all of which are shoreline communities close to the abandoned Beniboye Oil Field and have only been left to bear the devastating impacts of oil exploration activities, heavy boat movement, wave actions, and other environmental hazards associated with decades of oil production operations in the area.
“These communities have suffered enough. Despite their immense contributions to the Nigerian economy through oil production, the people zero basic social amenities, shoreline protection infrastructure, basic healthcare, potable drinking water, educational facilities, and meaningful empowerment opportunities”, he lamented.
“I therefore call on the Federal Government and Oando Surgenal Limited to urgently initiate a roundtable discussion with the affected communities in order to genuinely address the longstanding environmental and socio-economic challenges confronting the people and occasioned by the long-standing exploitation of their land
“It is also important to demand that world-class and internationally recognised valuers be engaged immediately to assess the environmental damages, losses, and sufferings experienced by the affected communities over the years and in the future that will result from the abanfoned reckages of the Beniboye Oil wells and Drilling Platform, while adequate compensation and remediation programmes should commence without further delay.
Furthermore, I strongly urge the Federal Government and Oando Surgenal Limited to immediately roll out a comprehensive end-of-life and abandonment programme for all abandoned oil facilities within the affected areas in line with internationally accepted 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.
‘ I remain committed to speaking for vulnerable communities and advocating for environmental justice, peace, and sustainable development across the Niger Delta region”, he concluded.
