Headline:
“Nigeria Was Better Off Before Oil, Says Environmental Activist Bassey as Niger Delta Demands Cleanup”
Subheading:
Communities call for Petroleum Industry Act review amid accusations of neglect and environmental devastation.
Port Harcourt, Nigeria – Prominent environmental activist Dr. Nnimmo Bassey has declared that Nigeria’s economy and society were stronger before crude oil became the country’s primary revenue source. Speaking at the 2026 Correspondents’ Week in Port Harcourt, Bassey, Executive Director of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), criticized the nation’s reliance on petroleum, arguing it has crippled agriculture, infrastructure, and economic independence.
Host communities in the Niger Delta also used the platform to demand a review of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which they claim unfairly blames them for oil theft and pipeline vandalism while ignoring corporate and governmental failures.
“Nigeria Was Wealthier Without Oil”
Bassey painted a stark contrast between pre-oil Nigeria and today’s resource-dependent economy. “Before oil, we had thriving agriculture, quality education, and solid infrastructure. Nigeria was a major food exporter. Now, oil has made us dependent while destroying our environment,” he said.
He recalled Nigeria’s early post-independence prosperity, quoting a former leader: “The problem isn’t money—it’s how to spend it.” Bassey argued that reckless spending and borrowing, fueled by oil wealth, entrenched economic instability.
Colonial Exploitation Continues
The activist likened oil extraction to colonial-era exploitation, where raw materials are exported while local populations suffer. “We grow cash crops like cocoa but import chocolate. We drill oil but import fuel. This system keeps Africa poor,” he said.
He urged Nigeria to join alternative economic alliances like BRICS to counter Western dominance. “We must break the monopoly controlling the global economy,” Bassey asserted.
Niger Delta: A Region in Crisis
Bassey warned that without urgent action, the Niger Delta faces irreversible ecological collapse. “Clean up the mess. No one has the right to poison our water, soil, and air while profiting from it,” he demanded.
He dismissed oil companies’ claims that spills are caused by vandalism, pointing to aging pipelines. “Many pipelines are 50 years old—obsolete and leaking. Blaming communities is a smokescreen.”
Communities Demand Justice
King Felix Otuwarikpo, a traditional ruler in Rivers State, accused oil firms and the government of neglecting host communities. “The PIA mandates funds for repairs, but companies use security forces to protect pipelines while ignoring our suffering,” he said.
He alleged insider involvement in oil theft, stating: “Most leaks are deliberate.”
Media’s Role in Accountability
Amaechi Okonkwo, Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, called on journalists to amplify the Delta’s plight. “We must be the voice of vulnerable communities and hold power accountable,” he said.
Despite a UN-backed cleanup in Ogoniland, other areas remain contaminated. Opaka Dokubo, a journalists’ union leader, lamented the destruction of mangroves—once a livelihood source—now replaced by tank farms.
Conclusion: A Call to Action
Bassey’s message was clear: Nigeria must diversify its economy, repair environmental damage, and prioritize justice for the Niger Delta. “The government can’t pretend all is well. It’s not,” he said.
As the world moves away from fossil fuels, the time to act is now—or risk leaving the Delta in ruins.
— Reported by Nexio News
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