The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, has called for more stringent legislative measures to safeguard the Niger Delta environment from continued degradation by violators, particularly multinational and indigenous oil companies.
Guwor made the call while speaking at the 2nd Annual Ijaw Media Conference 2025, organised by the Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF) and held on Wednesday in Effurun, Delta State. He lamented that years of oil exploration and exploitation had turned many communities in the region into dumping grounds, with devastating consequences for the environment and livelihoods.
According to the Speaker, stronger environmental laws and strict enforcement would help curb further damage and preserve the Niger Delta ecosystem for future generations.
Represented at the event by a former Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Chief Emma Amgbaduba, Guwor noted that environmental neglect and social injustice remain major drivers of unrest in oil-producing areas.
“Fishermen and farmers are today facing acute hunger and hardship as polluted rivers and degraded farmlands have destroyed livelihoods that once sustained entire communities,” he said, warning that the situation has pushed many families deeper into poverty. The concerns, which reflect broader national anxieties over environmental degradation and revenue losses, dominated discussions at the conference.
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Participants cautioned that unless urgent steps are taken to protect natural resources, the human cost of oil exploration would continue to worsen poverty and insecurity in the region, with far-reaching implications for the national economy.
Guwor emphasised that host communities must insist on strict compliance by both international and local oil companies with global environmental standards and the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
He also urged residents to take collective ownership of environmental protection in their communities, while acknowledging ongoing efforts by government and security agencies to curb crude oil theft, which he said has further aggravated pollution and economic losses.
The Speaker stressed that peaceful coexistence within host communities remains critical to restoring investor confidence, attracting development and improving the living conditions of the people of the Niger Delta.
