Niger Delta Stakeholders Demand End To Gas Flaring, Push For Renewable Energy – Independent Newspaper Nigeria

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Stakeholders from several Niger Delta communities have intensified calls for an end to gas flaring in Nigeria, urging the government and oil companies to embrace cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.

The stakeholders, drawn from communities affected by environmental pollution and ecological degradation, advocated a transition to renewable energy as a viable alternative to fossil fuels, which they said have continued to harm livelihoods and the environment in the region.

The call was made during the Global Week of Action, organised by the Quest for Growth and Development Foundation under the theme, “Kick the Polluters Out,” held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over the weekend.

The town hall meeting brought together community leaders, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, and environmental advocates to discuss the impact of gas flaring and other environmentally harmful practices on host communities.

Speaking at the event, Barr. Mrs Comfort Uche Agumagu, Woman Leader of Oromeruezimgbu Community in Rivers State, urged the government to accelerate efforts toward renewable energy adoption and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

She also called on multinational oil companies operating in the Niger Delta to adopt responsible environmental practices, accusing them of contributing significantly to pollution and environmental degradation in host communities.

According to Agumagu, ending gas flaring and investing in renewable energy will not only help protect the environment but also improve public health and promote sustainable development across the Niger Delta.

The stakeholders maintained that urgent action is needed to address the environmental challenges facing oil-producing communities and ensure a cleaner and healthier future for residents of the region.

She said, “I have learnt the harmful effects of pollution, especially gas flaring. Most of us were not aware of these things.

“Proper sensitisation should be done so that the public will be fully aware of the dangers.”

Mrs Agumagu issued a strong call to the Rivers State House of Assembly to prepare a bill that would ensure proper cleanup of other communities beyond Ogoni land and hold polluters accountable.

She commended Quest for Growth and Development Foundation for the sensitisation programme, admitting that many residents had been living with the dangers of pollution without knowing it.

Mr Chukwudi Ebony Johnson, a representative of ONELGA (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area), praised the organisers while urging them to take the campaign to a higher level.

“I want to encourage the organisers to extend this programme to the state government,” Johnson said, signalling the need for policy-level engagement with Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration.

Royal Chief Ambassador Magnus, the paramount ruler of Erewa village and a stakeholder in Gokana Local Government Area, commended the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) and the government for their efforts in Ogoni land.

“I commend HYPREP for taking their time to do what is right for the Ogoni people,” he said.

He, however, advised the government on a fundamental shift.

“I also want to advise the government on the switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy to avoid further damage to the environment,” Chief Magnu stated.

Coordinator of the Quest for Growth and Development Foundation, Mr Smith Nwokocha, explained the rationale behind the town hall meeting, stressing that community voices must not be silenced.

“The main purpose of the town hall meeting is to ensure that the voices of common people are heard in holding polluters accountable.

“The multinationals and government have a duty to protect the oil host communities from damage to their health and livelihoods,” Nwokocha said.

He reiterated the foundation’s position on energy policy, calling for a decisive break from fossil fuel dependency.

“We are calling on the government to consider that, instead of constant oil drilling and gas flaring, there is an alternative source of energy, which is renewable energy.

“It is safer for the environment, and they should invest in it for the betterment of the people.”

The Global Week of Action is an annual mobilisation coordinated by civil society groups worldwide to demand climate justice and corporate accountability.

Rivers State, the heart of Nigeria’s oil industry, has long suffered from gas flaring, oil spills, and environmental pollution, with communities in Ogoni, ONELGA, and other local government areas bearing the brunt of decades of extraction without adequate remediation.

While the Ogoni cleanup under HYPREP has made some progress, speakers at the event argued that neighbouring communities remain neglected and demand a comprehensive, statewide approach to environmental restoration.