By Barikui Felix
Stakeholders at the 3rd Annual Niger Delta Climate Change Conference held in Port Harcourt have called on the federal government to establish dedicated climate change ministries at both state and local government levels to address the region’s deepening environmental crises.
Leading the call was Friday Barilule Nbani, Director of Lekeh Development Foundation and convener of the conference, who advocated for the decentralization of Nigeria’s climate change response framework. The event, organised by the Leadership Initiative for Transformation (LEDEF), brought together environmental activists, legal experts, civil society leaders, and affected community representatives.
“We have the National Council on Climate Change, but it must go beyond Abuja,” Nbani said. “We need state and local government climate change desks to reflect the realities on the ground, especially in rural communities where degradation is severe and largely undocumented.”
He lamented the loss of livelihoods for farmers and fishermen due to widespread environmental degradation caused by oil extraction. “Communities are in crisis. Our people cannot farm or fish anymore. This is why we must build unity and solidarity to amplify our voices nationally and globally, including at COP30 in Brazil this November,” he added.
Ken Henshaw, Executive Director of We the People, in his keynote address, called for an urgent and just transition away from fossil fuels. He held multinational oil companies responsible for the region’s ecological damage and criticized the government’s continued dependence on crude oil.
“Nigeria contributes to the climate crisis not just through oil extraction but also by refusing to break free from fossil fuel reliance. We need an economy that is not tied to oil and gas. Communities deserve protection and direct support from climate-related disasters,” Henshaw stated.
He stressed the importance of defending the rights of vulnerable populations and ensuring their voices are included in policy decisions. “Those who have profited from oil must be held accountable for the devastation they’ve caused,” he said.
Offering a legal perspective, Anthony Hayward of Leigh Day Solicitors, who represents several Niger Delta communities including Bille, Ogale, Bodo, and Gokana in legal actions against Shell PLC and Renaissance, praised the resilience of communities seeking justice through the courts.
“The people of the Niger Delta have shown extraordinary courage. Litigation may be slow and expensive, but it remains the most effective path to justice. Since Shell discovered oil in 1956, their operations have been marked by neglect and impunity,” Hayward said.
He cited legal victories such as the ₦55 million compensation awarded in 2014 as evidence that sustained legal pressure, supported by civil society, can yield results. He also emphasized the importance of awareness, participation, and continued dialogue through platforms like the conference.
The event ended with a unified call for the decentralization of Nigeria’s climate governance structure, reparations for oil-producing communities, an end to gas flaring and fossil fuel dependence, community-controlled renewable energy investments, legal and civil actions against polluters, and active Niger Delta representation at COP30 in Brazil.
