Host communities call for PIA review in Niger Delta

Host communities of Niger Delta have called for a review of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), saying its current version shifts responsibility of oil theft and pipeline vandalism on the communities.

King Felix Otuwarikpo, Eze Igbo Upata III of Upata Kingdom, spoke on the issue while chairing the opening of the 2026 Correspondents’ Week of Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

The week with a theme: “The Imperatives of Comprehensive Clean-up of the Niger Delta Environment: Role of the Media”, was supported by Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Nigeria LNG and Kebetkeche Women Development Centre.

Speaking in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the traditional ruler said while Section 437 of the PIA provided for a percentage of host communities fund to be used for repair of oil assets in the event of sabotage, oil companies had continued to use security agencies to secure pipelines, leaving out the communities.

He claimed that insiders in the oil industry were sponsoring pipeline vandalism and oil theft in the region, insisting most of the pipeline leakages were deliberate.

He said: “The environment is very key and attention is usually not given to the environment because most of the consequences we suffer at the community level do not happen at the GRA.”

Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Mr. Amaechi Okonkwo, said the event was not just another ceremonial gathering, but also a solemn call to conscience.

He said: “It is a call to action on one of the most critical issues confronting our region and indeed our nation — the continued degradation of the Niger Delta environment and the urgent need for a holistic and comprehensive clean-up”.

Okonkwo said Niger Delta remained one of the most environmentally-devastated regions in the world despite being the economic backbone of the country for decades.

He said: “Our land, rivers, creeks and forests have suffered extensive pollution arising from oil exploration and exploitation activities, illegal refining, pipeline vandalism, gas flaring and years of environmental neglect.

“Communities that once depended on fishing and farming for survival now struggle daily with contaminated water, destroyed farmland, loss of biodiversity and serious health challenges. The painful reality is that many of our people continue to live in conditions that fall far below acceptable environmental and human standards.

“The future of Niger Delta depends greatly on the decisions we make today regarding environmental remediation, sustainable development and responsible governance.”

Okonkwo tasked the media to sustain the call for the clean-up of the entire region to safeguard future generations.

He said: “As journalists and media practitioners, we understand that the media occupies a strategic position in shaping public discourse and influencing policy direction. Beyond reporting events, the media must continue to serve as the voice of vulnerable communities, the watchdog of the society and the platform for accountability.

“The media must sustain advocacy for environmental protection by drawing attention to ecological challenges facing our communities, amplifying the cries of affected citizens and holding governments, multinational corporations and all relevant stakeholders accountable for their environmental responsibilities.

“We must also continue to educate the public on environmental sustainability and support initiatives aimed at restoring ecosystem of Niger Delta for present and future generations.”

The National Vice-President, Zone F of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr. Opaka Dokubo, lamented that mangroves, which provided livelihoods for local communities had been converted to tank farms.

He said: “Our mangroves have now been converted to tank farms. The mangroves that put food on the tables of Niger Delta and trained most of their children through schools have now been converted to tank farms”.