Niger Delta women protest, task IOCs on proper cleanup of region

Women in the Niger Delta have urged the international oil companies, IOCs, to engage in a proper clean up and restore the environment and means of livelihood in the polluted areas before divesting their assets in the region.

At a rally organized by women of Otuabagi in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, where crude oil was first discovered in commercial quantity, the protesters were armed with placards some of which reads,  "Women say no to irresponsible divestment", " Clean all polluted sites in Niger Delta and restore lost livelihood opportunities," among others.

In a statement jointly signed by Dr. Emam Okon, Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre; Ms. Glory Alender, Alauchi Women Development Initiative, Ibano; Ms. Enighe Elo, Abua Women Association, the women condemned the IOCs decision to sell off their onshore assets without consulting the host communities.

According to the women, "the communities are deeply concerned about the swift nature of these divestment plans, as the government has not provided guidelines to ensure resolution of pollution issues."

They insisted that as stakeholders in the Niger Delta women do not have adequate knowledge of the status of the new companies acquiring the assets of the oil companies and called on the Federal Government not to approve the sale of the companies until the polluted farmlands are cleaned up and restored.

"The divestment is not in the interest of the community people," the women added and condemned the attempt by the international oil corporation to shirk responsibility under the guise of selling assets.

They therefore called on the Federal Government to mandate multinational oil companies divesting to commit to cleaning all polluted sites in the Niger Delta and restore the lost livelihood of the people.

"We vehemently reject irresponsible divestment and demand that the state governors obtain a court injunction to halt sale of any assets related to this matter," they declared.

In an interview, Mrs. Esther Orubo, chairperson, Otuabagi Women Development Initiative urged the Federal Government to halt the divestment plans of the multinational oil companies until the genuine concern of the local communities are adequately addressed.