From Seyi Tayese, Yenagoa
Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has called on the Federal Government, relevant regulators and Shell Nigeria to urgently address the environmental and livelihood impacts of abandoned oil wells across communities in Ikono and Ibiono Ibom Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State.
The call followed a capacity-sharing dialogue under HOMEF’s Fossil Politics project, held in Ikot Enua community, Ikono LGA, in Akwa Ibom State.
Traditional rulers, men, women and youths from impacted communities across the two LGAs attended the dialogue and documented decades of environmental degradation, livelihood losses and neglect.
The oil wells were reportedly drilled and capped by Shell in the 1950s after the wells were deemed commercially unviable. Although there is no ongoing oil extraction in the affected areas, community members say the abandoned infrastructure continues to affect their environment, livelihoods and wellbeing.
Across eight communities in the two LGAs, residents reported declining crop yields, destruction of economic trees, polluted streams, disappearance of fish, snails and other species, damaged property, insecurity and loss of livelihoods.
At Ikot Enua, Chief Felix Vincent Udoh said oil palm seedlings are dying, agricultural productivity has declined, and species previously common in the community have disappeared. He also reported insecurity around the abandoned wells, alleging that armed men suspected to be militants visit the infrastructure to steal from them.
Udoh further said that Ikot Enua secured judgments against Shell at both the High Court and the Court of Appeal in 2013, but the company has yet to comply with them, more than 13 years later.
In Uyo Afaha Nkan, Barrister Trust Udoh said oil spills had contaminated community water sources and affected farming. “We can’t plant in my farm anymore,” he said, calling for the removal of the oil installation to enable residents to regain access to their farmlands.
Community members from Adara Abom, Ikot Idaha, Edem Udua, Ediene Atai, Ntan Mbat and Nkara Obio similarly reported impacts including declining fishing activities, destruction of economic trees, poor crop yields, polluted community streams, and rapidly rusting corrugated roofing sheets.
HOMEF Executive Director, Dr Nnimmo Bassey, said the situation reflects the wider environmental cost of an extractive system that leaves communities bearing the consequences after value has been extracted from their territories.
“The money needed to clean up pollution in the Niger Delta is more than the money the oil companies have generated. Abandonment cannot be the final stage of extraction. The responsibility to restore the land must continue long after the commercial interest in the resource has ended; the wells may have been abandoned, but responsibility cannot be abandoned. The land must be restored, the people must be heard, and the cycle of extractive harm must end.”
Dr Bassey emphasised that the experiences of communities such as those in Ikono and Ibiono Ibom demonstrate why environmental restoration and community rights must be placed at the centre of decisions concerning petroleum infrastructure.
“No host community in Nigeria has developed from the mere discovery or exploration of oil on its land. From Bille and Ogoniland to Nembe, Ayetoro and Ibeno to Obodo, communities have continued to contend with pollution, livelihood losses, inadequate infrastructure and struggles for justice. The response to the legacy of abandoned oil wells cannot be renewed extraction. The priority must be to decommission hazardous infrastructure, clean up pollution, restore ecosystems, compensate affected communities and support sustainable livelihoods beyond extractivism”.
HOMEF calls on Shell, the Federal Government, and relevant regulatory agencies and Akwa Ibom State Government to: ensure compliance with the 2013 Court of Appeal decision in CA/C/70/2011 and address the environmental damage and other outstanding issues arising from the abandoned Ikono 1 oil well.
To Properly assess, decommission and remove abandoned oil wells and associated hazardous infrastructure across affected communities in Ikono and Ibiono Ibom LGAs. Undertake comprehensive cleanup and ecological restoration of polluted farmlands, streams, wetlands and other affected ecosystems.
Compensate communities and individuals who have lost farmland, crops, economic trees, fishing grounds, property and other sources of livelihood to pollution and related impacts. Investigate reported health concerns and provide appropriate healthcare, environmental health assessments and long-term monitoring for affected communities.
Guarantee meaningful community participation in decisions concerning the abandoned wells, environmental assessment, remediation and restoration of affected territories.Support non-extractive livelihoods, including sustainable farming, fishing, ecological restoration and other community-led livelihood opportunities and economic activities.
The people of Ikono and Ibiono Ibom need their lands and waters restored, their rights respected, and their communities empowered to build futures that do not depend on further destruction of their ecological foundations.
HOMEF maintained that the abandonment of commercially unviable wells must not amount to abandoning environmental responsibility, nor to using environmental restoration as a pathway to renewed extraction.
