The Federal Government has renewed calls for climate justice for the Niger Delta, urging multinational oil companies and other stakeholders to provide comprehensive reparations for communities affected by decades of oil exploration and environmental degradation.
Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, made the appeal at the 2026 Niger Delta Climate Change Conference in Port Harcourt, where he said the country's oil-producing region had borne the environmental cost of sustaining Nigeria's economy.
Delivering the keynote address on the theme, "Unite for Justice: Niger Delta Communities Rise for Climate Action and Reparations," the minister described the Niger Delta as the nation's economic backbone but lamented that years of crude oil extraction had left communities grappling with pollution, flooding, coastal erosion and declining livelihoods.
Represented by his Senior Technical Assistant, Mr. Frederick Odika, Momoh said the region had suffered extensive damage from oil spills, gas flaring and ecosystem destruction despite contributing only a negligible share of global greenhouse gas emissions.
He noted that the effects of climate change, including rising sea levels and frequent flooding, continue to threaten the survival of communities across the Niger Delta.
According to the minister, addressing the region's environmental challenges requires more than clean-up programmes or energy transition initiatives.
He argued that genuine climate action must include environmental accountability, economic justice and long-term restoration of degraded ecosystems.
Momoh maintained that multinational oil companies that generated enormous profits from petroleum resources in the Niger Delta have an obligation to restore damaged environments and compensate affected communities before abandoning ageing oil infrastructure.
He stressed that climate reparations should go beyond monetary compensation to include the rehabilitation of polluted lands and water bodies, improved healthcare for impacted communities and investments that create sustainable livelihoods.
The minister also advocated a just transition to renewable energy, saying local communities should play leading roles in developing and managing clean energy projects.
He further called for renewed investment in agriculture and the revival of traditional farming practices to improve food security and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Describing the situation in the Niger Delta as a clear case of environmental injustice, Momoh said residents continue to suffer the consequences of a climate crisis they played little role in creating.
He urged the Federal Government and relevant agencies to strengthen enforcement of environmental regulations, hold polluters accountable and ensure that host communities are actively involved in shaping climate policies.
Momoh called on participants at the conference to remain united in demanding justice and building a more resilient and environmentally sustainable Niger Delta.
He said the region's struggle was not only about environmental protection but also about securing justice, dignity and a better future for communities that have endured decades of ecological degradation.
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