World Environment Day: Coalition Calls On Oil Companies To Comply With Provisions Of PIA

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…FERA Calls For Reduction Of Plastic Waste Impact To Minimise Pollution

…Rivers Stakeholders Demand Improved Waste Evacuation, Sanitation Enforcement

BENIN/ABUJA/PORT HARCOURT  – The National Civil Society Coalition for Oil, Gas and Mining Host Communi­ties in commemorating the 2026 World Environment Day has called on the Nigerian government and oil companies to take urgent action to address the worsening environmental conditions facing extractive host communities across Nigeria.

A statement signed and re­leased by Mr Lawrence Dube, National Coordinator of the Na­tional Civil Society Coalition for Oil, Gas and Mining Host Com­munities, noted that while oil, gas, and mineral resources con­tribute significantly to Nigeria’s economy, many host communi­ties continue to suffer from oil spills, gas flaring, polluted water sources, land degradation, aban­doned mining sites, loss of liveli­hoods, and weak enforcement of environmental regulations.

According to Mr Dube, since this year’s World Environment Day focuses on Climate Action and the urgent need for gov­ernments, corporations, and citizens to respond decisively to growing environmental and cli­mate challenges, extractive host communities remain among the populations most vulnerable to environmental degradation and climate-related impacts.

“Consequently, we call on the Federal Government, the National Assembly, regulatory agencies, oil companies, and mining companies to strength­en environmental accountabili­ty, protect community rights, and ensure compliance with existing laws and regulations governing extractive operations in Nigeria.

“We specifically call on oil companies to fully comply with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and the Host Communities Development Trust framework by ensuring transparency, community par­ticipation, environmental pro­tection, and sustainable devel­opment in host communities,” Dube said.

Dube also tasked mining com­panies to comply with the provi­sions of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007 and Commu­nity Development Agreements through responsible mining practices, environmental resto­ration, and meaningful engage­ment with affected communities.

Also, the Foundation for Earth Rights Assembly (FERA) on Fri­day joined the global community to mark the 54th World Environ­ment Day celebration, calling for the reduction of impacts of Plas­tic Waste to minimise pollution.

Speaking at a Stationary Road show held at Uselu market square in Benin City and titled ‘Reduc­ing Impacts Of Plastic Waste’, to mark the event, the Executive Director of the Foundation for Earth Rights Assembly (FERA), Nosa Tokunbor, said World En­vironment Day is one of the big­gest environmental awareness programmes in the world.

He said it is celebrated an­nually on 5 June, as one of the planet’s largest platforms for en­vironmental outreach.

According to him, the annual event coordinated by the Unit­ed Nations Environment Pro­gramme (UNEP) had this year’s edition being hosted by Azerbai­jan and focused on solutions to the climate crisis.

Tokunbor also said this year’s global World Environment Day, Themed: ‘Climate Action Begins With You, Act Now’, identified the urgent need for climate action and responding to the warning signals which the earth is sending.

Tokunbor listed major envi­ronmental challenges in 2026 to include, global warming and cli­mate change, heat waves and ex­treme weather, melting glaciers, Rising sea levels, deforestation, air, water and plastic pollution, biodiversity loss and habitat de­struction.

He said FERA has launched its campaign as part of its respon­sibility of carrying out climate action to advocate for responsible consumption aimed at reducing plastic pollution in the environ­ment.

“This is clearly to impact pos­itively on our planet, our com­munities, and the future gener­ations” he said.

In the same vein, Rivers stake­holders, alongside government agencies and youth volunteers, on Friday, used the commemora­tion of the World Environment Day 2026 to demand improved waste evacuation and stricter sanitation enforcement across the state.

The demand comes against the backdrop of worsening san­itation conditions in parts of the state, characterized by indiscrim­inate refuse disposal and delays in the evacuation of waste from collection points.