Port Harcourt, May 19, 2026
Environmental stakeholders in the Niger Delta have urged authorities to take immediate steps to address the region’s worsening pollution crisis, warning that continued environmental degradation is fueling economic hardship and insecurity.
The concerns were raised during the opening of the 2026 Press Week organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Port Harcourt.
Participants at the event noted that years of pollution linked to oil exploration had severely affected livelihoods, destroyed ecosystems and contributed to growing unrest in affected communities. The programme focused on the theme: “The Imperatives of Comprehensive Clean-Up of the Niger Delta Environment: Role of the Media.”
Speaking at the gathering, the traditional ruler of Upata Kingdom, Eze Felix Otuwarikpo, called for amendments to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), arguing that some provisions unfairly place responsibility for oil theft and pipeline vandalism on host communities.
He explained that although the law allows host community funds to be used for repairing damaged oil facilities, oil companies still depend mainly on security agencies for pipeline protection instead of involving local residents directly.
According to him, granting host communities a greater role in safeguarding oil infrastructure would improve security outcomes and reduce sabotage. He also appealed to the Federal Government to prioritise the interests of communities affected by oil activities across the region.
Also speaking, the National Vice President of the NUJ Zone F, Opaka Dokubo, lamented the destruction of mangrove forests that once supported fishing and farming activities in the Niger Delta. He said many of those natural areas had now been converted into tank farms and industrial facilities.
Dokubo urged oil companies and government authorities to place greater emphasis on the welfare, health and safety of residents, stressing that the region’s contribution to Nigeria’s economy should translate into better living conditions for its people.
Environmental activist Chief Constance Meju challenged journalists to tell more human-centred stories about the environmental crisis, arguing that the impact of pollution in the Niger Delta remains largely underreported.
She linked rising crime and social instability in the area to the collapse of traditional means of livelihood caused by environmental damage and called for urgent cleanup efforts to ease the suffering of local communities.
Earlier, Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Amaechi Okonkwo, described the event as a renewed appeal for action against the continued destruction of the Niger Delta ecosystem. He noted that despite decades of contributing to Nigeria’s oil-driven economy, the region continues to grapple with polluted waterways, damaged farmlands, declining biodiversity and serious public health concerns.
He added that the media must continue to raise awareness about environmental sustainability while supporting efforts aimed at restoring the region’s ecosystem and improving the living conditions of affected residents.