CSOs Urge HYPREP to Restore Livelihood to Ogoni People

By Lucky Isibor

A coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) under the aegis of the Nigeria People's Annual General Meeting (AGM) Platform has called on the Nigeria Federal Government and the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), to restore fullscale livelihood to the people of Ogoni land now devastated by oil spillage which has polluted their environment, including water and divested them of their means of livelihood.

The CSOs made the call in their resolution at the end of the 2nd People's AGM held in Abuja, 27 May and also called for the constitution of the Governing Board of HYPREP by the Federal Government to fast trask the clean up of Ogoni land.

Signed by the convener of the Peoples AGM Platform, Rev. David Ugolor who is also the Executive Director of African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Legborsi Saro Pyagbara and Taiwo Otitolaye of African Indigenous Foundation for Energy and Publish What You Pay, Nigeria

Sustainable Development, AIFES Co-chair respectively; also called for  investigation into the remediation process in Ogoni land.

According to the resolution, "The Federal Government of Nigeria should appoint a substantive chairman for the Governing Council of HYPREP to ensure consistency in the leadership. Also, the Government, companies and other stakeholders should contribute to the remediation process by supporting the development and adoption of new technologies that can accelerate the Ogoni cleanup. 

"We also call on HYPREP to embark on fullscale livelihood restoration programme for the Ogoni people.

"There should also be an unbiased investigation into the remediation process in Ogoni land as well as environmental and health audits of the entire Niger Delta and a total cleanup of 

the region.

"The President of Nigeria and the NNPC Ltd should withdraw the operating license of Shell because of their complicity in the environmental and ecological injustices ranging from

divestment from on-shore to off-shore leaving behind the problems it created in the Niger Delta, weakened climate change commitment for short-term profit, and it’s poor human rights record in Nigeria.

"The Norwegian Oil Fund and other investors should follow the example of The Church of England which made a commitment to vote against all directors at the upcoming AGMs of Exxon Mobile, Occidental Petroleum, Shell, and Total Energies, in response to their 

failure to meet climate change objectives.

"To conduct further research on the activities of oil companies ongoing in Kogi, Nasarawa, Gombe, and other parts of Nigeria, to promote learning and experience sharing between Niger Delta communities and other parts of Nigeria.

"The Energy Transition Plan of oil companies should be in compliance with Paris Agreement on climate change and Climate Change Act, reflecting the perspectives of communities affected by decades of fossil fuel extraction.

"We call on international financial institutions including African Development Bank, The World Bank and Export Credit agencies to discontinue financing fossil fuel projects in 

Nigeria.

"The AGM re-stated its earlier call for the companies’ major investors to go to the Niger Delta for the fact-finding mission and resolved to undertake high-level advocacy to engage the investors and government currently supporting SHELL, Total Energies, Exxon Mobil 

and other oil companies in Nigeria. Agreed to send the outcome of the AGM to the major investors of these companies

"Oil companies including SHELL, Exxon Mobil, Chevron and their investors such as Blackrock, Vanguard, Legal and General Investment management, should take responsibility for loss and damage in the Niger Delta as recommended during COP27.

"We urge the Federal government, particularly the incoming administration to demonstrate the political will to end gas flaring in Nigeria."

In his welcome address, the convener of the People's AGM and Executive Director of African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Rev David Ugolor assured that the People's AGM will continue to challenge the preference for profit of major oil companies over the lives of the Niger Delta people. 

He noted that the People's AGM Platform "is an alternative to the AGMs of multinational oil companies where we will be discussing the real issues as against declaring profit at the detriment of the people. This is the second in the series.

"In May 2022, ANEEJ convened the first people’s AGM in Lagos, Nigeria. This brought together the people of Niger Delta region and environmental activists from different parts of the country comprising heads and leaders of NGOs, CBOs, faith-based organisations, representatives of host oil and gas communities, human rights groups, students, youths, artisans, and media practitioners. 

"The first people’s AGM was held to discuss,Shell’s energy transition strategy submitted to her shareholders for an advisory vote during the AGM scheduled for Tuesday May 24, 2022. The impact of Shell’s operation in Nigeria and other multinational oil companies, particularly, the Niger Delta region. The role of the Church of England and other shareholders in advancing the operations of shell in Nigeria and other parts of the world. The outcome of the first people’s AGM and the impact of the massive “rally against Shell” campaign was remarkable. 

"Together with our allies abroad, we made impact on Shell’s AGM and that of other companies.

"As we speak, while our people are suffering, Shell announced $42.3 billion profit for 2022, more than double its 2021 total and probably a record for any British company. Exxon Mobil also reported $56 billion in annual profit. We must continue to challenge the preference for profit over the lives of the Niger Delta people".

Representatives of over thirty civil society organisations, oil and gas producing host communities, media practitioners, women, youths, faith based organisations from the Niger Delta and other emerging oil producing states across the country attended the 2023 edition of the People's AGM Platform.