‘We Are Dying’: Tinubu Government Accused of Genocide in Niger Delta
A fresh accusation has been leveled against the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the worsening humanitarian and environmental conditions in the Niger Delta region.
The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) says the situation in the oil-producing region has reached a deadly point, describing it as a slow and systematic destruction of its people.
Speaking during an interaction with journalists in Delta State, PANDEF claimed that decades of unchecked oil pollution and weak government response have left communities exposed to disease, poverty, and early death.
The group warned that continued neglect could further deepen anger and unrest in the region.
The concerns were raised by PANDEF’s spokesman, Chief Ominimini Obiuwevbi, during a media chat with members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ughelli Correspondents Chapel.
He said the hardship faced by residents is a direct result of long-term environmental damage caused by oil exploration activities and the failure of successive governments to clean up affected areas.
According to him, crude oil spills, gas flaring, and contaminated water sources have destroyed livelihoods across the region. Farming and fishing, which once sustained many communities, are no longer safe or productive.
He noted that families are forced to consume polluted food and water, exposing them to serious health risks.
Obiuwevbi accused the Federal Government of indifference, poor governance, and denial of responsibility. He said compensation to affected communities has been inadequate, while promises of remediation and development remain largely unfulfilled. This, he added, has continued to erode trust between the Niger Delta and the central government.
He further warned that the region’s life expectancy has dropped sharply. He blamed this on prolonged exposure to toxic substances released into the environment through oil operations.
According to PANDEF, cases of cancer, respiratory illnesses, and unexplained deaths have become common in many oil-bearing communities.
“The land which farm is polluted, the produce from it when eaten causes damage to our health, the water bodies which we fish and drink from are pollutted and even the air we breathe in is polluted with non-stop gas flaring in our lands”.
The PANDEF spokesman also questioned the political will of the Federal Government to address what he described as long-standing marginalisation of oil-producing states.
He said despite the enormous wealth generated from the Niger Delta, the region remains underdeveloped, with poor infrastructure, limited healthcare, and high unemployment.
He raised fresh concerns over funds paid by International Oil Companies as penalties for gas flaring. Obiuwevbi demanded clarity on how such monies have been managed over the years, alleging that affected communities have not benefited from them.
He disclosed that PANDEF plans to engage the Federal Government directly. According to him, a delegation will be constituted to demand accountability and insist on the release of gas flaring compensation funds, which he claimed were never properly accounted for by previous administrations.
The group warned that continued silence and inaction could worsen the humanitarian crisis in the Niger Delta and further strain national unity.
