By Nkechi Eze
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing ecological and environmental challenges affecting oil-producing communities, acknowledging their critical role in sustaining Nigeria’s economy.
The assurance was given by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, when he received a delegation of royal fathers from Okpe Kingdom, led by the Orodje, Felix Mujakperuo, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to a statement signed by the Head of Information and Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dewan Goshit, Akume said the government recognises the devastating ecological consequences of decades of oil exploration in host communities, including environmental degradation, coastal and gully erosion, flooding, and other environmental threats.
He assured the delegation that the government, through the Ecological Project Office, would collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Environment to develop a deliberate and strategic response to address the concerns raised.
Akume commended the Okpe monarch for his meritorious service to the nation during his career in the Nigerian Army and acknowledged the strategic contributions of oil-producing communities to Nigeria’s economic growth.
“The Government recognises the immense contributions of your great kingdom, the Okpe Kingdom, to the economic development of this country. We want to thank you for protecting these oil wells and pipelines. These are great assets that contribute to our country’s economy. We thank you and your leadership for protecting these assets,” Akume said.
The SGF also highlighted steps taken by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address ecological challenges, including the establishment of the Federal University of Environment and Technology in Ogoniland, which is expected to produce skilled manpower to tackle environmental and technical issues associated with oil exploitation.
He further stressed that oil companies operating in host communities must fulfil their statutory Corporate Social Responsibility obligations to support sustainable development in affected areas.
Earlier, Mujakperuo said the delegation’s visit was to seek urgent federal intervention in addressing ecological problems affecting Ugbokodo, an oil-producing community in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State.
The monarch noted that despite hosting major oil facilities and protecting critical national infrastructure, the community has suffered severe environmental degradation due to decades of oil exploration and gas flaring.
He identified shoreline erosion, land loss, pollution, and recurrent flooding caused by overflowing rivers as some of the major ecological threats confronting the area, and appealed for government intervention through shoreline protection, land reclamation, and road improvement projects.
