By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

Stakeholders in Bayelsa State have called on the government, oil companies, and the international community to act swiftly on the report of the Bayelsa State Oil and Environment Commission that was unveiled on Wednesday.

Recall that the public presentation of the report, tagged: An Environmental Genocide,” took place during the International Conference on Petroleum Pollution and Just Transition in the Niger Delta, held in Abuja.

The report which sheds light on the severe human, environmental, and economic toll that oil and gas operations have taken on Bayelsa and the entire Niger Delta , said $12 billion was required over the next 12 years to restore the land and support impacted communities.

Speaking variously at a press conference they held following the unveiling of the report, the stakeholders insisted that the commission’s report was an urgent call to action.

Those present at the event that took place at the Ladi Kwali Conference Centre, of Abuja Continental Hotel, included Dr. Isaac Osuoka, Social Action International; Lord Sentamu, Chair of the BSOEC; Kathryn Nwajiaku-Dahou, Chair, Expert Working Group, BSOEC; King Bubaraye Dakolo, Chairman, Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers; Nnimmo Bassey, Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation; and Olanrewaju Suraju, Executive Director, HEDA Resource Centre, respectively.

Setting the stage open, Dr. Isaac Osuoka, who bemoaned the neglect of Bayelsa State in particular and Niger Delta in general in spite of their contributions to the nation’s economy, said the BSOEC’s report “is an urgent call to action—one that must be answered by every level of government, the oil companies involved, and the international community. “

On his part, Lord Sentamu, explained that, “As a Commission, we believe that our report addresses the need for environmental justice in Bayelsa State. “

He said:”The findings are also relevant to other parts of the Niger Delta. Our Commission believes that access to justice is imperative. There is certainly a prospect of litigation, and there are already cases on behalf of affected communities in the courts, but many other spills are as yet unaddressed. There seems to be one rule for people in Nigeria – another for wealthier Western countries. Ultimately, a local population, forced to live in the midst of leaky and polluting pipelines, with their farmland and rivers contaminated, have sometimes turned desperate measures.

“Oil companies self-report the cause of spills. There are serious concerns about the accuracy of ‘joint investigation reports, used to decide the cause of oil spills, as the oil companies typically determine these. Oil companies are strongly incentivized to attribute a spill to sabotage rather than other causes, such as ageing infrastructure. The system needs to be overhauled so there is an independent investigation and communities can trust the process. “

Speaking also,Kathryn Nwajiaku-Dahou, Chair, Expert Working Group, BSOEC, said :”The findings of the BSOEC report reveal the dire environmental and health realities faced by the Niger Delta’s communities, where the equivalent of a barrel and a half of oil has been spilled for every man, woman and child alive in the state today. “

“After a comprehensive investigation, we found that toxic levels of hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and other pollutants have infiltrated the air, water, and soil across large areas, particularly in Bayelsa State.

“Our scientific research showed that chromium, a highly toxic oil-related contaminant, was present in groundwater in some areas at over 1,000 times the World Health Organisation limit, while in others, there were  concentrations of noxious chemicals, such as Total Petroleum Elydrocarbons, exceed safe levels by a factor of one million.

” These toxins have decimated biodiversity, eroded agricultural land, and destroyed fish populations on which many communities rely. Local residents now live with alarmingly high rates of respiratory diseases, cancers, and other chronic health conditions directly linked to oil pollution.

“The impacts of this toxic legacy go beyond physical health; they disrupt the social fabric and degrade the economic wellbeing of entire communities. As livelihoods in fishing and agriculture collapse, poverty rates rise, deepening inequality and destabilizing the region further. In response to these urgent issues, the BSOEC report recommends, first and foremost, a comprehensive and legally enforceable environmental remediation program. Oil companies must be held accountable for cleaning up polluted sites, restoring ecosystems, and replanting mangroves that act as vital carbon sinks.

“The report also calls for immediate health interventions to address pollution-related illnesses and long-term investments in healthcare infrastructure. These investments are critical to monitoring and treating the communities most affected by decades of exposure to toxins.

” The Commission further recommends legislative and regulatory reform, which will mandate corporate accountability for environmental damage and human rights abuses prior to any further divestment or transfer of assets. This action is essential to protect not only the people of the Niger but also to serve as a benchmark  for environmental justice glebally, “he said.

The Chairman, Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers,King Bubaraye Dakolo, while also speaking, said, “As a traditional leader representing the communities whose lands and lives have been ravaged by oil extraction, I stand here to deliver a clear message from my people. “

According to him,”The oil industry’s negligence has made our lands uninhabitable, our rivers unsafe, and our way of life untenable. For generations, our communities have sustained themselves through fishing, farming, and a deep connection to our land. These industries have been decimated by oil pollution, leaving our people impoverished and our cultural heritage in jeopardy. “

“The time for action is now. We can no longer accept the cycle of promises made and broken by the companies that have reaped vast profits at our expense. It is essential that the federal government, the National Assembly, and international institutions step in to prevent these companies from washing their hands of responsibility as they divest from onshore assets. We call for an immediate halt to all asset sales until the necessary cleanup and compensation have been completed. This is not just an environmental issue; it is a matter of justice and equity for the people of the Niger Delta, who have suffered for too long., “he said.

Nnimmo Bassey, Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMER), while also commenting on the development, said:”The Niger Delta is often cited as one of the most polluted regions on Earth, and the findings o} this report confirm the full extent of this horror.”

He spoke further:” Toxic pollution from oil spills and gas flaring has made large portions of our ecosystem toxic, from soil to rivers to the air we breathe. This situation is a result of systemic negligence and failure by oil companies, regulators, and policymakers alike. Communities are Icft to grapple with a toxic legacy that the oil industry has no intention of cleaning up unless compelled by law and public pressure.

“But let us be clear: the need for a just energy transition is not simply a matter of environmental rhetoric. It is a life-and-death issue for the Niger Delta and other frontline communities worldwide. We are calling on the Nigerian government, the National Assembly, and all relevant agencies to act urgently. A just transition demands that we end onshore asset sales until full remediation is conducted and communities are compensated.

“It also requires that regulatory frameworks are strengthened, not only for corporate accountability but to ensure future protection for our people and lands. We are facing an emergency. The time to act is now. “

On his part,Olanrewaju Suraju, Executive Director, HEDA Resource Centre, noted that, “

The BSOEC report highlights an unbroken pattern of exploitation and neglect by international oil companies operating in Nigeria. “

“These corporations have profited immensely from our resources while leaving behind an unlivable environment for local communities. For too long. they have been allowed to evade responsibility, using legal loopholes to avoid the accountability that should be demanded of them.

“This is not just a local issue. The climate crisis, the devastation of Nigeria’s ecosystems, and the persistent human rights abuses in the Niger Delta have international implications. We must hold oil companies accountable and insist that divestments include full remediation and compensation for affected communities.

“I call on the National Assembly, the Nigerian government, and regulatory bodies to prioritize the Niger Delta and ensure that justice is delivered. This is an opportunity to set a precedent and send a powerful message globally: that environmental and human rights abuses will not be tolerated, “he added.

In his remarks, titled:”Final Call to Action”,Dr Isaac Osuoka, who representated the communities, civil society, and expert voices,said:”We collectively urge the Nigerian government, the National Assembly, and the international community to implement the BSOEC report’s recommendations without delay. “

He spoke further:”We demand an immediate halt to the sale of onshore oil assets by international oil companies until they have fulfilled their obligations for environmental remediation and community compensation, After looking at the vast extent of the damage, the Commission calculates in the report that we need $12 billion over the next 12 years to repair the damage done. This is a matter of justice, of environmental responsibility, and of human dignity.

“The Niger Delta’s experience is a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of the climate and ecological crises. The world’s attention is on us, and we have a responsibility to act—not just for Nigeria, but as part of a broader call for global environmental and social justice. The recommendations of the BSOEC report offer a roadmap, and it is our collective duty to follow it. The time for action is now, and the people of the Niger Delta deserve nothing less.”