AFR 44/004/2011
People living in oil producing areas of the Niger Delta have seen their human rights undermined by oil companies that the Nigerian government has failed to hold to account.
The oil extraction industry is responsible for widespread pollution of the Niger Delta environment. Oil spills, waste dumping and gas flaring are endemic. Pollution has damaged crucial sources of livelihood, including farming and fisheries, pushing many people deeper into poverty.
There is an urgent need for a comprehensive clean-up of polluted areas of the Niger Delta, and for effective remedies for affected individuals and communities.
The Nigerian government must strengthen regulation of the oil extraction industry to ensure that companies are held accountable for the impacts of oil pollution on human rights and the environment, and to prevent further abuses.