Falana To Sue Oil Firms Over Niger Delta Pollution
By ESTHER McWILLIS-IKHIDE
Renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has announced plans to take legal action against multinational oil companies accused of polluting and neglecting host communities in the Niger Delta region.
Falana made this known in Port Harcourt during the 30th Ken Saro-Wiwa Memorial Lecture, where he strongly condemned the continuous degradation of oil-producing areas and the poor living conditions of residents.
He accused oil companies of exploiting the region’s resources while abandoning their corporate social responsibilities. According to him, the affected communities have been left impoverished and denied access to basic social amenities such as clean water, healthcare, and education.
“The people who provide the wealth of this nation are living in poverty and environmental disaster,” Falana said. “We are heading to court to ensure justice, accountability, and compensation for victims of decades-long pollution.”
Falana also revisited the tragic execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists in 1995, describing the act as “a miscarriage of justice and an example of state repression.”
Other speakers at the event, including environmental activist Nnimmo Bassey, called on the Nigerian government to ensure full accountability from oil companies, complete the Ogoniland cleanup, and uphold Saro-Wiwa’s legacy through sustainable environmental justice.
