Bayelsa State Governor Duoye Diri has called on international oil companies (IOCs) to pay $12 billion over 12 years to address the environmental and health damages caused by oil exploration. The demand was made during the International Oil Pollution and Just Transition Conference in Abuja.
Governor Diri lamented the dire state of Bayelsa’s environment, stating, “Not too many decades ago, we could cast nets into abundant waters. However, the oil boom has brought doom. Our lifeblood – our rivers – now flow with toxic oil residue instead of vibrant life.”
He highlighted the struggles of local fishermen and farmers who face polluted waters and barren land, leading to hunger and despair for their families. A report from the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission revealed alarming statistics, including that oil spills in Nigeria contributed to over 16,000 additional neonatal deaths in 2012 alone.
Diri expressed concern over the rising health issues linked to oil pollution, stating that children are born with severe deformities, and respiratory diseases have surged. He noted, “Life expectancy in Bayelsa has plummeted to just 50 years,” far below global standards.
“This report has amplified our voice, a voice that has cried out for decades, unheard. Our children’s futures, our heritage, and our very existence hang in the balance,” he added.
The governor urged IOCs to commit to $12 billion for the restoration of the environment and to support Bayelsa’s transition to renewable energy and alternative livelihoods. He called on other governors from oil-producing states to join this fight for environmental justice.
During the conference, Nnimmo Bassey, Director of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), emphasized the urgent need to address the extensive damage caused by decades of oil extraction in the Niger Delta, labeling it “environmental genocide.”
Bassey pointed to shocking pollution levels in Bayelsa, including a per capita crude oil pollution of 1.5 barrels and total hydrocarbons pollution in water exceeding safe standards by one million times. He condemned the reckless use of water channels as waste dumps and highlighted the long-lasting impact of abandoned oil infrastructure on local communities.
The conference underscored the pressing need for collective action to confront the severe environmental and health challenges faced by Bayelsa and the broader Niger Delta region.
