Read more about the article BEHIND THE SCENE: State Attacks on Civic Freedoms in the Niger Delta
Publications

BEHIND THE SCENE: State Attacks on Civic Freedoms in the Niger Delta

  Since its return to democracy in 1999, Nigeria has seen a steady shrinking of the civic space through actions of the federal government. However, state governments are highly complicit in abuses, sometimes even more than the national government. This report examines civic space infringements by state governments in the Niger Delta, a phenomenon that is clearly under-reported.…

Comments Off on BEHIND THE SCENE: State Attacks on Civic Freedoms in the Niger Delta
August 8, 2024
Read more about the article CSOs Lament Shrinking Civic Space in Niger Delta
In The News

CSOs Lament Shrinking Civic Space in Niger Delta

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) operating in states of the South-South and Niger Delta have lamented the closure of public space by government and other state actors against the expression of free speech and other... Read More

Comments Off on CSOs Lament Shrinking Civic Space in Niger Delta
August 2, 2024
Read more about the article We the People Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Strengthening and Protecting the Civic Space and Civil Society Operational Environment in the Niger Delta
Recent Interventions

We the People Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Strengthening and Protecting the Civic Space and Civil Society Operational Environment in the Niger Delta

In the last 2 decades, Nigeria has witnessed an alarming rise in state backed attempts to stifle the civic space, regulate and restrict civil society organizations, criminalize democratic dissent and suffocate freedom of assembly and expression. At the federal level, there have been at least eight legislative attempts to stifle the civic space and restrict the…

Comments Off on We the People Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Strengthening and Protecting the Civic Space and Civil Society Operational Environment in the Niger Delta
July 31, 2024
Read more about the article Pollution: Environmentalists Blame FG For Not Holding IOCs Accountable
In The News

Pollution: Environmentalists Blame FG For Not Holding IOCs Accountable

Some Environmentalists in the south-south region have criticized the Federal Government for what they described as laxity in holding International Oil Companies (IOCs), accountable for their actions but endorsing their divestment plan. https://thewhistler.ng/pollution-environmentalists-blame-fg-for-not-holding-iocs-accountable/

Comments Off on Pollution: Environmentalists Blame FG For Not Holding IOCs Accountable
July 23, 2024
Read more about the article Niger Delta Pollution is Political, Says Environmentalist
In The News

Niger Delta Pollution is Political, Says Environmentalist

Renowned environmentalist and Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, has alleged that the pollution situation in the Niger Delta region is politically motivated, saying that the government...

Comments Off on Niger Delta Pollution is Political, Says Environmentalist
July 23, 2024
Read more about the article Townhall Meeting: Legacy of Big Oil in the Niger Delta
Recent Interventions

Townhall Meeting: Legacy of Big Oil in the Niger Delta

On July 23, 2024, We the People held a townhall meeting in Otuabagi community, Bayelsa State, following the release of a podcast documenting the devastating impact of oil extraction in the region and the culpability of Shell, the operating oil company. The event brought together a diverse group of community members, including community chiefs, executive committee…

Comments Off on Townhall Meeting: Legacy of Big Oil in the Niger Delta
July 23, 2024
Read more about the article We the People and HOMEF Train Communities on Environmental Monitoring and Eco Defending
Recent Interventions

We the People and HOMEF Train Communities on Environmental Monitoring and Eco Defending

On July 18, 2024, We the People and the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) held a one-day training for activists and environmental Monitors in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.  The meeting with the theme  ‘From Monitoring to Resistance Eco-Defending as a Resistanace Movement’ aimed to equip civil society, media, and community members with skills to critically…

Comments Off on We the People and HOMEF Train Communities on Environmental Monitoring and Eco Defending
July 18, 2024
Read more about the article Crime Scene: Big Oil In the Niger Delta
Podcast

Crime Scene: Big Oil In the Niger Delta

In this episode, we travel to Niger Delta communities where Shell, ExxonMobil, Total Energies, Eni and Chevron have extracted crude oil from for several decades. We speak to the indigenous people who have lost livelihoods and been poisoned by the pollution of these companies. We listen as communities counter the lies of big oil, and make…

Comments Off on Crime Scene: Big Oil In the Niger Delta
June 29, 2024
Read more about the article Addressing the Causes of Deforestation in Cross River State: Implications for Biodiversity, Livelihoods, Security and Climate Change
Publications

Addressing the Causes of Deforestation in Cross River State: Implications for Biodiversity, Livelihoods, Security and Climate Change

The level of forest degradation in Cross River State has reached unprecedented heights, making it the most alarming cases of ongoing deforestation in the world. This report examines the factors driving deforestation in the state, how deforestation undermines efforts to address climate change, how it severely threatens wildlife and drives endangered wildlife species to extinction. It…

Comments Off on Addressing the Causes of Deforestation in Cross River State: Implications for Biodiversity, Livelihoods, Security and Climate Change
June 24, 2024
Read more about the article We the People’s Policy Roundtable Proposes Strategies for Forest Protection
Recent Interventions

We the People’s Policy Roundtable Proposes Strategies for Forest Protection

Concerned with the continued loss of forest in Cross River state, We the People on the 6 th of June, 2024, a organized a roundtable with environment and conservation stakeholders focused on developing strategies and partnerships for forest protection in the State. The meeting drew participation from government ministries and agencies including the state Forestry Commission…

Comments Off on We the People’s Policy Roundtable Proposes Strategies for Forest Protection
June 7, 2024
Read more about the article World Environment Day: We the People Advocates Pollution and Ecosystem Restoration in the Niger Delta
Recent Interventions

World Environment Day: We the People Advocates Pollution and Ecosystem Restoration in the Niger Delta

In Nigeria, particularly in the ecologically sensitive Niger Delta, the threat to ecosystems is substantial and alarming. The region faces significant challenges from environmental degradation due to oil exploitation, deforestation, and land mismanagement which is significantly affecting the livelihoods and survival of local communities. As climate change intensifies, it reinforces ecological challenges communities undergo, posing a…

Comments Off on World Environment Day: We the People Advocates Pollution and Ecosystem Restoration in the Niger Delta
June 5, 2024
Read more about the article Group seeks legal options for Niger Delta environmental damage
In The News

Group seeks legal options for Niger Delta environmental damage

We The People, a human and ecological rights organization, is exploring legal avenues to hold international oil companies (IOCs) accountable for the extensive environmental damage caused by their operations...

Comments Off on Group seeks legal options for Niger Delta environmental damage
June 3, 2024
Recent Interventions

We the People and Partners Petition Shell’s AGM on Pollution

I’m here today with a message from We the People in the Niger DeltaOn account of your fossil fuel pollution in the Niger Delta in Nigeria, the life expectancy there is currently only between 41 and 46 years. That’s younger than most of the people in this room today. How can you be comfortable profiting from…

Comments Off on We the People and Partners Petition Shell’s AGM on Pollution
May 23, 2024
Read more about the article Environmental activists fault planned resumption of oil extraction in Ogoniland
In The News

Environmental activists fault planned resumption of oil extraction in Ogoniland

The groups recalled that in 1993, Shell was evicted from Ogoniland where it had extracted crude oil non-stop for decades with unbelievable ecological consequences, after the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) mobilized the Ogoni and called on the Nigerian government to clean up the Ogoni ...

Comments Off on Environmental activists fault planned resumption of oil extraction in Ogoniland
May 23, 2024
Recent Interventions

Ogoni Oil in the Eye of the Storm

Press Release  In 1993, Shell was forced out of Ogoniland where it had extracted crude oil non-stop for decades with unbelievable ecological consequences. The Ogoni people, mobilized under the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), had issued a set of demands in the Ogoni Bill of Rights in 1990 which included calls to the…

Comments Off on Ogoni Oil in the Eye of the Storm
May 19, 2024
Read more about the article We the People holds Legal Roundtable on Addressing Oil Company Divestment and Environmental Remediation in the Niger Delta
Recent Interventions / Uncategorized

We the People holds Legal Roundtable on Addressing Oil Company Divestment and Environmental Remediation in the Niger Delta

On 29 th April, 2024, We the People convened a legal roundtable on the pressing issues of oil company divestment and environmental remediation in the Niger Delta. The roundtable gathered legal scholars, environmental advocates, community representatives, and policy makers to engage in a comprehensive discussion on the legal pathways for ensuring accountability and justice in the…

Comments Off on We the People holds Legal Roundtable on Addressing Oil Company Divestment and Environmental Remediation in the Niger Delta
May 3, 2024
Recent Interventions

2024 WE THE PEOPLE’S RIGHTS ACADEMY (CALL FOR APPLICATIONS)

Human and nature rights are essential components of a sustainable future and require proper recognition, protection, and promotion. As we strive to build a better world, it is crucial that we understand the interdependence between human rights and the rights of nature. The Rights Academy is committed to fostering an understanding of this underlying relationship among…

Comments Off on 2024 WE THE PEOPLE’S RIGHTS ACADEMY (CALL FOR APPLICATIONS)
May 2, 2024
Read more about the article Don’t Let Shell, ExxonMobil, Eni-Agip, Chevron & Total Leave Without Cleaning Up the Niger Delta.
Recent Interventions

Don’t Let Shell, ExxonMobil, Eni-Agip, Chevron & Total Leave Without Cleaning Up the Niger Delta.

International oil companies Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Eni-Agip and Total Energies have identified buyers to take over their onshore oil operations in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. These companies are walking away after nearly 7 decades of reckless oil extraction that has generated hundreds of billions of dollars for their shareholders, but has left the indigenous…

Comments Off on Don’t Let Shell, ExxonMobil, Eni-Agip, Chevron & Total Leave Without Cleaning Up the Niger Delta.
April 19, 2024
Read more about the article Petroleum Industry Act, Section 257 Factsheet
Recent Interventions

Petroleum Industry Act, Section 257 Factsheet

The Petroleum Industry Act was passed in 2021, following more than two decades of legislative efforts to modernise Nigeria's petroleum sector legislation. A significant element of the PIA focuses on community participation and benefit sharing within the sector.While the Act provides that 3% of oil companies' operational costs will be spent on community development, other provisions…

Comments Off on Petroleum Industry Act, Section 257 Factsheet
March 25, 2024
Read more about the article Town Hall Meeting to Mark International Day of Forests, Launch Mangrove Restoration Project
Recent Interventions

Town Hall Meeting to Mark International Day of Forests, Launch Mangrove Restoration Project

As part of our efforts to celebrate the International Day of Forests, We the People organised a town hall meeting on March 21, 2024, in the Idundu community of Cross River state. The main objective of the meeting was to raise awareness about the importance of mangroves and emphasise the need to protect this vital ecosystem…

Comments Off on Town Hall Meeting to Mark International Day of Forests, Launch Mangrove Restoration Project
March 21, 2024
Recent Interventions / Uncategorized

Divestment Explainer Video

After nearly 70 years of oil and gas extraction in Nigeria’s 'Niger Delta and hundreds of billions of dollars in profits, why are multi-national oil companies suddenly losing their appetite in the Niger Delta? This short explainer video tells the true story. Play Video

Comments Off on Divestment Explainer Video
March 12, 2024
Read more about the article Holding Oil Companies and their Partners Accountable: We the People Takes Campaign to Communities
Recent Interventions

Holding Oil Companies and their Partners Accountable: We the People Takes Campaign to Communities

As oil companies in Nigeria's Niger Delta divest from onshore assets and expand their deep sea extraction activities, We the People has launched a series of community engagement forums with the goal of holding the companies accountable and demanding that they clean up the mess they have created in the region. The engagements also seek responsibility…

Comments Off on Holding Oil Companies and their Partners Accountable: We the People Takes Campaign to Communities
February 29, 2024
Read more about the article We the People Webinar Examines Harms of Oil Company Divestments and Insurance for Fossil Projects
Recent Interventions

We the People Webinar Examines Harms of Oil Company Divestments and Insurance for Fossil Projects

As part of a bigger movement to hold oil giants accountable for their environmental atrocities, We the People On February 27, 2024, held a webinar on the theme "Examining Oil Company Divestment and Insurance for Fossil Extraction in Nigeria: Ecological and Human Rights Concerns". The webinar sought to investigate the true motivations behind oil firms' hasty divestment decisions…

Comments Off on We the People Webinar Examines Harms of Oil Company Divestments and Insurance for Fossil Projects
February 27, 2024
Recent Interventions

Shell Must Address Ecological, Health, Economic and Social Impacts Concerns in the Niger Delta Before Selling Assets

Media Statement On the 16 th of January 2023, Shell announced on its website and social media platform X that it had reached an agreement to sell its Nigerian onshore subsidiary SPDC to a consortium of domestic and international oil companies for a total net fee of $2.8 billion. However, the finalization of the transaction is dependent…

Comments Off on Shell Must Address Ecological, Health, Economic and Social Impacts Concerns in the Niger Delta Before Selling Assets
January 23, 2024
Read more about the article REDD+, the commercialization of Nature and the Rights of Mother Earth.
Blog / Blog

REDD+, the commercialization of Nature and the Rights of Mother Earth.

Grace Appolos, Human rights, Environment and Climate Campaigner, We the PeopleREDD+ is perhaps one of the most celebrated and promising climate change mitigation programmes under the UNFCCC frameworks. Touted as a ‘nature-based solution’, REDD+ has been widely propagated as a safe and prudent strategy to curb carbon emissions and mitigate climate change. However, the implementation of…

Comments Off on REDD+, the commercialization of Nature and the Rights of Mother Earth.
January 11, 2024
Read more about the article HOSTCOMS, CSOs sue NASS, AGF over PIA
In The News

HOSTCOMS, CSOs sue NASS, AGF over PIA

Oil Host Communities in Niger Delta and some Civil Society Organisations in the region have dragged the National Assembly and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to court over the Petroleum Industry...

Comments Off on HOSTCOMS, CSOs sue NASS, AGF over PIA
November 4, 2023
Read more about the article CSOs, communities drag FG to court over PIA, Development Trust
In The News

CSOs, communities drag FG to court over PIA, Development Trust

Port Harcourt — A coalition of civil society organisations, CSOs, and members of host communities in the Niger Delta region have dragged the National Assembly and the Attorney General of the Federation to court over section 257 of the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA 2021, which bothers on Host Communities Development...

Comments Off on CSOs, communities drag FG to court over PIA, Development Trust
November 4, 2023
Read more about the article CSOs, communities sue NASS, FG over PIA
In The News

CSOs, communities sue NASS, FG over PIA

A coalition of civil society groups and host communities in the Niger Delta region have dragged the National Assembly and the Attorney General of the Federation to court, over section 257 of...

Comments Off on CSOs, communities sue NASS, FG over PIA
November 4, 2023
Read more about the article Group sues National Assembly, AGF over section 257 of PIA
In The News

Group sues National Assembly, AGF over section 257 of PIA

Some natives of oil-bearing communities in the Niger Delta and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have sued the National Assembly over Section 257 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). Also joined in the suit as a defendant is the Attorney-General of the Federation...

Comments Off on Group sues National Assembly, AGF over section 257 of PIA
November 4, 2023