By: Oluwakemi Kindness
The National Civil Society Coalition for Oil, Gas and Mining Host Communities has called on the Federal Government, regulatory agencies and extractive companies to urgently address worsening environmental degradation in Nigeria’s oil, gas and mining communities.
The Coalition said communities hosting extractive operations across the country continue to suffer from oil spills, gas flaring, contaminated water sources, abandoned mining sites, deforestation and loss of livelihoods despite existing environmental regulations.
In a statement issued on Friday to mark World Environment Day 2026, the group warned that weak regulatory enforcement and poor corporate accountability continue to expose host communities to severe environmental and climate-related risks.
The statement, signed by the Coalition’s National Coordinator, Lawrence Dube, said communities in the Niger Delta and several mining regions face growing threats from pollution, flooding, erosion and ecosystem destruction.
According to the Coalition, the environmental crisis is worsening public health challenges, food insecurity and economic hardship in affected communities.
The group noted that women, youths and vulnerable populations suffer the greatest impact of environmental degradation due to declining livelihoods and worsening living conditions.
“The continued neglect of host communities not only undermines sustainable development but also weakens peacebuilding efforts and public trust in governance and corporate accountability,” the statement said.
Using the occasion of World Environment Day themed “Climate Action,” the Coalition demanded stricter enforcement of environmental laws regulating oil, gas and mining operations in Nigeria.
It urged regulatory agencies to strengthen environmental monitoring and enforce compliance with environmental impact assessment requirements, pollution control measures and remediation obligations.
The Coalition also called on oil and gas companies to fully implement the Host Communities Development Trust provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
According to the group, host communities must actively participate in the governance, implementation and monitoring of projects funded through the trust framework to ensure transparency, accountability and sustainable development.
The Coalition further urged mining companies to comply with the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007, especially provisions relating to environmental protection and Community Development Agreements.
It stressed that communities affected by mining activities should participate in decisions affecting their land, environment and livelihoods.
The group also demanded large-scale environmental remediation in polluted communities, including the cleanup of contaminated rivers, degraded farmlands and abandoned mining pits.
It urged government agencies and extractive companies to invest in climate resilience programmes, environmental restoration projects and sustainable livelihood initiatives for affected residents.
The Coalition condemned the intimidation and harassment of environmental activists, community leaders and civil society organisations advocating environmental justice and accountability.
It also warned against any attempt to amend the Petroleum Industry Act in ways that could weaken protections available to host communities under the Host Communities Development Trust framework.
The group maintained that future reforms in Nigeria’s petroleum sector must strengthen environmental accountability, community participation and corporate responsibility.
The Coalition reaffirmed its commitment to promoting environmental sustainability, peace and inclusive development in Nigeria’s extractive sector through collaboration with communities, government institutions and development partners.
