Erosion Threatens Extinction Of Delta Community, Activist Pleads With Oborevwori, Tinubu

Rita Enemuru, Reporting

ENVIRONMENTAL rights activist and development advocate, Comrade Mulade Sheriff, PhD, has issued an urgent plea to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, and other relevant stakeholders to intervene in the worsening erosion crisis threatening the existence of Obuguru Community in Burutu Local Government Area.

The activist, who serves as National Coordinator of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) and National Treasurer of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), said the situation in the oil-rich Ogulagha Kingdom had become dire.

“I am deeply disturbed by the worsening coastal erosion currently threatening the existence of this oil-bearing host community as a result of the devastating Atlantic Ocean surge at the River Forcados Estuary,” Comrade Mulade told reporters.

He described how large portions of land in Obuguru were being washed away by aggressive ocean surges, endangering lives, ancestral homes, fishing settlements, properties, and the economic survival of the people.

“If urgent intervention measures are not immediately taken, the community faces the danger of total extinction and displacement,” he warned.

The activist, who has declared his intention to represent Warri Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives during the 2027 general elections, called on all relevant government agencies at local, state and federal levels to take “practical and proactive steps” towards shoreline protection and erosion control.

Comrade Mulade also took aim at Oando Surgenal Limited, the successor company to the former Eni Agip Oil Company Nigeria Limited, accusing it of abandoning the community after decades of crude oil exploration.

“It is disheartening to see the state of neglect of Obuguru Community by the former Agip, now operating as Oando,” he said.

“After extracting enormous wealth from our land, the community has been left to suffer environmental degradation, erosion, economic hardship, and absence of basic infrastructure without adequate compensation or sustainable development.”

He further decried the abandonment of three other shoreline communities – Beniboye, Isiayegbene and Okuntu – all located near the defunct Beniboye Oil Field.

According to him, these communities continue to bear the devastating impacts of oil exploration, heavy boat movement, wave actions and other environmental hazards despite their immense contributions to Nigeria’s economy.

“These communities have suffered enough,” he lamented. “Despite their contributions, the people have zero basic social amenities, shoreline protection infrastructure, basic healthcare, potable drinking water, educational facilities, and meaningful empowerment opportunities.”

The environmentalist called for an immediate roundtable discussion between the Federal Government, Oando Surgenal Limited, and the affected communities to address longstanding environmental and socio-economic challenges.

He also demanded that “world-class and internationally recognised valuers” be engaged to assess environmental damages, losses and suffering, with adequate compensation and remediation programmes to commence without delay.

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“I strongly urge the Federal Government and Oando Surgenal Limited to immediately roll out a comprehensive end-of-life and abandonment programme for all abandoned oil facilities within the affected areas, in line with internationally accepted environmental standards,” he said.

“Our people cannot continue to suffer after sacrificing so much for Nigeria’s economic survival. Environmental justice, fairness, remediation and sustainable development must prevail.”

Comrade Mulade reaffirmed his commitment to speaking for vulnerable communities across the Niger Delta, adding: “I remain committed to advocating for environmental justice, peace, and sustainable development.”