Niger Delta communities, CSOs insist on inclusivity in oil asset divestment

He criticised the actions of some multinational companies, describing them as contrary to global best practices.

“You cannot devastate communities, destroy livelihoods, pollute water sources and then exit under the guise of divestment. It is unacceptable,” he said.

Also speaking, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), with support from Transparency International (Australia) and the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), during  a town hall meeting held in Port Harcourt noted that although the Petroleum Industry Act provides a regulatory framework for divestments, affected communities often lack adequate information about the process and their rights.

HEDA warned that without robust oversight and inclusive participation, the ongoing divestment wave could expose host communities to significant environmental and socio-economic risks.
Some of the communities that attended the town hall meeting include the Ogoni people, Bille in Akuku Your and other from Ikwere Local Government Area

Speaking at the event, HEDA’s Executive Secretary, Sulaimon Arigbabu, said the meeting was convened at a critical time, as oil companies continue to exit assets across the region.

He noted that while divestments are often framed within the context of global energy transition and corporate restructuring, they carry far-reaching consequences for communities already burdened by decades of environmental degradation.

Arigbabu listed oil spills, abandoned infrastructure and disrupted livelihoods among the persistent challenges facing the Niger Delta, warning that such issues risk being left unresolved as asset ownership changes.

According to him, the town hall provided a platform for dialogue, engagement and accountability among key stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society groups and affected communities.

“We must ensure that no divestment process leaves behind environmental injustice or excludes the voices of host communities,” he said.

Chairman, HEDA RESOURCE Centre, Olanrewaju Suraju, added that the initiative aims to deepen public understanding of oil asset divestment, document grassroots experiences and generate actionable recommendations to guide policy reforms and advocacy.

Key issues highlighted at the forum included environmental liabilities, responsibility for remediation, accountability of both exiting and incoming operators, and the role of regulators in enforcement.

Arigbabu emphasised that transparency, accountability and participation are fundamental rights, noting that the effectiveness of existing legal frameworks depends largely on proper implementation and active citizen engagement.

He urged stakeholders to move beyond complaints and focus on practical, people-centred solutions that will promote sustainable development in the Niger Delta.

Other  partners in the project, include Transparency International (Australia) and the Natural Resource Governance Institute, as well as local collaborators such as Stakeholder Democracy Network, Social Action, Health of Mother Earth Foundation and Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre.