Reps grill oil firms over environmental damage in Niger Delta

The House of Representatives Joint Committee on Environment, Petroleum Resources Upstream, Petroleum Resources Downstream, and Climate Change has demanded answers from oil companies operating in Nigeria regarding environmental degradation in the Niger Delta region.

Chairman of the joint Committee, Rep. Pondi Gbabojor, voiced concerns in Abuja during a public hearing on Environmental Damage within oil-producing communities on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.

He emphasized the severe environmental and socio-economic challenges faced by these communities due to decades of oil exploration and exploitation.

Despite existing laws and regulatory bodies, environmental damage persists in oil-producing communities.

Gbabojor asserted that the committee would identify culpable organizations and ensure accountability.

He further emphasized the crucial role of the environment in sustaining life, and urged for its protection.

Of the 40 companies invited to the hearing, only 35 attended, including the Ministry of Environment, Dubi Oil Company, and Nigerian Agip Oil Limited.

Other attendees included Starling Oil Exploration, Mobil Producing Nigeria Ltd., Resources Exploration and Production Ltd., and First Exploration and Petroleum Development Company.

The oil companies urged the committee to visit all affected states, particularly Ogoni Land, to witness the environmental degradation firsthand.