By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Legal practitioner and human rights activist, Olisa Agbakoba, has called on the next Nigerian president to make the eradication of oil pollution in the Niger Delta a priority from the first day in office.
Agbakoba, who spoke on the region’s environmental crisis and its impact on residents, said the government must hold oil companies accountable for pollution that has damaged the environment and claimed lives in affected communities.
He also criticised regulatory agencies responsible for tackling oil and water pollution and related health concerns, alleging that they had failed to adequately discharge their responsibilities.
“First and foremost, the government must hold the oil companies accountable,” Agbakoba said.
According to him, there are several regulatory agencies saddled with the responsibility of addressing oil and water pollution, as well as health-related consequences, but “unfortunately, these agencies are not doing their job.”
The former President of the Nigerian Bar Association also advocated a comprehensive assessment of the needs of communities affected by oil pollution.
He urged the government to consult community leaders and traditional rulers in the affected areas, including the Ogale kings, in developing solutions to the environmental challenges confronting the region.
Agbakoba further called for a recovery and restoration plan that would go beyond producing official reports without tangible implementation.
He said the next president should have an “action-driven presidential agenda” for the Niger Delta, with measurable targets beginning within the first 100 days in office.
“I want an action-driven presidential agenda from day one. For example, in the next 100 days, there should be no more pollution in the Niger Delta,” he said.
Drawing a comparison with the current administration’s decision to end fuel subsidy payments, Agbakoba said the government should demonstrate similar political will in tackling environmental pollution.
“Just as the current president ended subsidies, we need to end oil pollution and environmental hazards in the Niger Delta so that the people can see and feel the difference,” he said.
