Activist Critiques Nigeria’s Oil Dependency
Dr. Nimmo Bassey, a leading environmental activist and Executive Director of the Mother Earth Health Foundation (HOMEF), has stated that Nigeria was economically and socially thriving before crude oil became its primary revenue source. His remarks come amid calls from host communities in the Niger Delta for a reevaluation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which they argue unfairly places responsibility for oil theft and pipeline sabotage on local populations.
Media’s Role in Addressing Environmental Issues
Bassey delivered a keynote address during the 2026 Correspondents’ Week organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists’ Correspondents’ Chapel in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The event, themed “The Need for Comprehensive Clean-Up of the Niger Delta Environment: The Role of the Media,” was supported by several organizations including Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Nigeria LNG Limited, and Kebet Keche Women’s Development Center.
Long-term Impacts of Oil on Nigeria’s Economy
In his address, Bassey emphasized that decades of reliance on oil have ravaged Nigeria’s agricultural sector, impeded infrastructure growth, and fostered economic dependence. “Nigeria was better off without oil,” he asserted, recalling that prior to the oil boom, the nation exhibited flourishing education and robust infrastructure, alongside being a significant food exporter.
Colonial Roots of Extraction Mentality
Bassey further contended that the consequences of oil extraction have deepened colonial patterns in Africa’s economy, where raw materials are shipped abroad while local communities remain impoverished. He lamented that rather than cultivating food crops like okra and yams, farmers are compelled to produce cash crops that do not benefit the local population.
Calls for Alternative Economic Alliances
The activist urged Nigeria to explore alternative global partnerships, such as BRICS, to challenge what he described as Western dominance in the global economic landscape. “Supporting groups like BRICS is essential for diluting monopolistic control over the global economy,” he emphasized.
Urgency for Environmental Clean-Up
Bassey warned of the dire consequences if Nigeria continues to neglect environmental remediation in the Niger Delta, advocating for immediate action to address ecological damage before fossil fuels are phased out globally. He chastised the oil industry for polluting local resources and implored companies to take responsibility for environmental degradation.
Pipelines and Environmental Justice Efforts
He also questioned the frequent attribution of oil spills to vandalism, blaming outdated infrastructure and operational mismanagement instead. “Many pipelines are beyond their useful life,” he pointed out, advocating for necessary upgrades that have been overdue for decades. Furthermore, he criticized the continued gas flaring in oil-producing regions, despite multiple court rulings rendering the practice illegal.
Community Voices and Media Responsibility
King Felix Otuwarikpo, the Supreme Ruler of Upata Kingdom, echoed calls for accountability, indicating that local communities continue to bear the brunt of environmental harm from the oil industry. He accused some within the sector of facilitating pipeline vandalism, stating that most leaks are intentional rather than accidental.
Mr. Amaechi Okonkwo, Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel, articulated that the event served as a crucial call to action against the ongoing environmental crisis facing both the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large. He highlighted the media’s pivotal role in advocating for communities affected by pollution and called for mobilization toward comprehensive environmental clean-up efforts.
Opaka Dokubo, National Vice-President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, lamented the transformation of mangrove ecosystems into industrial facilities, stating that this shift jeopardizes not only local livelihoods but also the broader ecological balance of the Niger Delta.
