Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa has squarely pointed fingers at International Oil Companies (IOCs), particularly Shell Petroleum Development Company, for the environmental degradation in the state. Diri made these assertions during the Annual Convention and Fundraising of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) of the Americas, held in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Sunday. The congress centered around the theme: “Ijaw-Nation: Nurturing Partnership through Symbiotic Relationships Towards Homeland, Social, and Economic Development’’.
Governor Diri specifically singled out Shell as a major culprit in the degradation of the Bayelsa environment. “After waiting for several years for dialogue without Shell or any other IOC coming forward, we will be compelled to institute legal action against the Dutch super oil major and other IOCs,” he stated.
Diri also emphasized the urgent need for Shell’s divestment to address the environmental crisis. “Today, our flora, fauna, and once-beautiful environment have disappeared. We will need the support of our brothers and sisters in the diaspora because there is so much we will achieve if we work together,” he added.
In his remarks, Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), echoed concerns about environmental pollution, urging the cooperation of the Ijaw people in combating oil theft and pollution. Lokpobiri highlighted the role of illegal crude oil activities in exacerbating pollution in Bayelsa State, stressing the importance of collective action to mitigate this menace.
Addressing the Nigerians in the diaspora, Lokpobiri appealed for their support in preserving the environment and discouraging pipeline vandalization. He underscored the critical role of the oil sector in Nigeria’s economy and emphasized the need for collaboration between the government and stakeholders to ensure its sustainable development.
Earlier, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, the President General of INC, emphasized the urgent need for partnership and collaboration among the Ijaws, particularly those in the diaspora, to address the challenges facing the community. Okaba highlighted the dire economic and environmental situation in the region, calling for concerted efforts to rectify it.