Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has intensified his advocacy against environmental degradation and climate change impacts on Niger Delta communities, calling for global sanctions on polluters and the establishment of a remediation fund.
Speaking at the DeltasUnite Summit of the United Nations Convention on Conserving River Deltas (UNCCRD) in Bangkok, Thailand, Diri urged the international community to take joint action to protect the world’s river deltas, particularly the Niger Delta, which faces severe threats from coastal erosion, oil pollution, and environmental degradation.
The Urgent Need for Environmental Justice
Diri highlighted the long-standing environmental crisis in the Niger Delta, where over 50 years of oil exploration have devastated ecosystems and communities. He cited the November 1, 2021, oil spill in Bayelsa, caused by an oil well previously operated by Shell and later acquired by AITEO. The spill lasted 38 days, contaminating the Santa Barbara River and affecting over 50 fishing communities.
“Our state laws are too weak to hold polluters accountable because the oil industry is controlled by federal laws that do not favor host communities,” Diri lamented.
He referenced the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission’s 2018 report, which described the situation as an “environmental genocide,” revealing shocking statistics:
- 16,000 infant deaths in 2012 due to pollution-related health issues.
- 97% of affected communities suffering food insecurity.
- 40% of Bayelsa’s mangrove forests lost to oil spills.
Call for a Global Response
Governor Diri proposed a Global Deltas Action Plan (GDAP) anchored on three key pillars:
- Empowering local communities with decision-making roles in climate adaptation policies.
- Investing in nature-based solutions such as restoring mangroves and riverbanks.
- Establishing a global remediation and restoration fund while enforcing accountability for environmental damage.
He emphasized that environmental justice should be a fundamental human right, not an option, urging stakeholders to dedicate financial resources to the operationalization of the UNCCRD.
Recognizing the Guardians of the Deltas
Diri proposed the establishment of a Global Deltas Day to reaffirm commitments to protecting fragile delta ecosystems worldwide. “We are the guardians of the Deltas, and we will not allow their destruction to continue,” he declared.
The summit, attended by representatives from 24 countries, also featured the Nigerian delegation led by Gift Johnbull, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-South), alongside Bayelsa State officials, including Amb. Boladei Igali (PANDEF National Chairman), Hon. Living Mitin (House Committee on Environment Chair), and Hon. Ebi Ololo (Commissioner for Environment).
Governor Diri’s address serves as a wake-up call for international cooperation in restoring and protecting the Niger Delta, ensuring sustainable development, and holding polluters accountable.
