A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations has called on the Nigerian Government to halt all divestment process by multinational oil companies operating in Nigeria as rejected by the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC.
During a peaceful protest in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, the group also said that approving the divestment process will not only weaken the independence of regulatory agencies, but will further impoverish an already degraded environment and social wellbeing of the Niger Delta region.
The discovery of oil in commercial quantities in the Niger Delta region in the late fifties has left the environment more impoverished, devastated and polluted rather than being a vehicle for the development of the region.
The protesters also urged the federal government to uphold the regulatory independence of NUPRC and create an environmental restoration fund to be funded by multinational companies.
The activists are also demanding that International Oil Companies be held accountable for their activities, which have caused devastating environmental degradation, human rights abuses, and social injustices in the region.
Members of the coalition of Civil society organizations marched to Government house in Port Harcourt, to further press home their demand and sought for action from the Rivers State government.
Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie
