Falana Urges Federal Government to Fast-Track Ogoni, Niger Delta Clean-Up

Prominent human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has called on the Federal Government to expedite the ongoing environmental clean-up of Ogoniland and the wider Niger Delta region, stressing that decades of oil pollution have left communities in severe hardship.

Falana made the appeal during the 30th memorial lecture held in honour of the late environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others executed in 1995 for their activism against environmental degradation by oil companies. The event took place in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, and was attended by civil society groups, youth representatives, and environmental advocates.

In his address, Falana lamented that despite the launch of the Ogoni clean-up project years ago, progress has been “painfully slow,” leaving the affected communities to continue living in conditions that violate their fundamental right to a clean and healthy environment.

“It is unacceptable that, thirty years after the sacrifice of Ken Saro-Wiwa and his comrades, the Ogoni people are still battling contaminated water, devastated farmlands, and poverty,” Falana said.

“The Federal Government must take urgent steps to fast-track the clean-up process and ensure that the people of the Niger Delta benefit from the wealth derived from their land.”

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria further urged the government to go beyond environmental restoration by prioritising the provision of social amenities, education, and employment opportunities in the region. According to him, sustainable development is the only way to honour the legacy of Saro-Wiwa and address the longstanding injustice faced by Niger Delta communities.

Falana also commended local and international organisations that have continued to advocate for environmental justice and accountability in the oil-producing areas, urging them not to relent in pushing for transparency and community participation in the clean-up project.

The Ogoni clean-up, initiated under the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), was launched in 2016 to implement the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recommendations for the restoration of oil-polluted areas in Ogoniland.

However, concerns have persisted over the slow pace of implementation and alleged mismanagement of funds meant for the exercise.