Mr James Ibor, the Secretary, Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee in Cross River, has called for adequate recognition...
Systemic underfunding has been identified to crippling police operations and drive Nigeria Police officers into corruption, extortion, and compromises in criminal cases...
Nigeria is in the grip of an environmental emergency. A new report by the civil-society group We The People warns...
On Friday, August 22, 2025, We the People’s Rights Academy held the graduation ceremony of its 3rd cohort at the Nnimmo Bassey Conference Hall in Calabar. Fourteen (14) young scholars successfully completed a 3-month intensive training program on human rights, environmental rights, and advocacy. The Rights Academy serves as a hub for learning and leadership development,…
Stakeholders at a human rights workshop in Cross River State have demanded urgent reforms in the Nigeria Police Force, citing poor...
On Friday, August 22, 2025, We the People convened a one-day workshop on human rights and youth engagement in policing, under the theme “Building Bridges, Enhancing Trust and Promoting Human Rights”. The workshop, held in Calabar, Cross River State, brought together over 30 police officers and 60 young people across the state as part of the…
To commemorate the World Youth Day, August 12th, 2025, We the People hosted a virtual conference on “Mobilizing Youth Action for Democratic Inclusion and Rights Protection” as part of the #IncludeNaija Project supported by the European Union. This year’s International Youth Day event was more than a commemoration — it was a wake-up call for youths…
As part of its ongoing mobilization and campaign for inclusion of young people in policy and governance processes in the country, We the People on the 29th of July 2025 hosted a youth rally and lecture at the University of Cross River State, Calabar. The event which was organized in partnership with the Student Union Government…
Concerned with the escalating threat of deforestation in Cross River State, We the People and partners organized the 3rd edition of its annual Multi-Stakeholder Conference on Deforestation in Cross River state. The Conference which held in Calabar, Cross River State assembled stakeholders including community leaders, conservationists, public officials, legal practitioners, the academia, and the media. Among…
Stakeholders drawn from civil society, academia, local communities, and government agencies have raised the alarm over the deepening crisis of deforestation in Cross...
Environmentalists, civil society groups, and local stakeholders converged in Calabar on Wednesday to address the escalating threats of deforestation across...
Once revered as West Africa's largest and most pristine rainforest, covering an expansive 7,920 square kilometers in 1992, Cross River State's vital ecosystem is...
The destruction of Cross River’s rainforest, the ‘largest’ remaining pristine forest in West Africa, is reaching a catastrophic level, prompting warning by experts and...
The destruction of Cross River’s rainforest, the ‘largest’ remaining pristine forest in West Africa, is reaching a catastrophic level, prompting warning by experts and activists...
The destruction of Cross River’s rainforest, the ‘largest’ remaining pristine forest in West Africa, is reaching a catastrophic level, prompting warning by...
On Friday July 18th, 2025, We the People in partnership with YouCan-B Initiative and the University of Calabar Youth Friendly Hub held a youth civic leadership rally with the theme, “Empowered to Lead: Inspire, Influence and Impact” in the University of Calabar, Cross River State. The event brought together over 200 students and youth leaders, all…
On July 17, 2025, We the People held the 3rd edition of its annual Multi-Stakeholder Conference on Deforestation in Cross River state. The conference which held in Calabar, Cross River State brought together stakeholders such as community leaders, conservationists, public officials, legal practitioners, academics and members of the media. The meeting focused on highlighting the increasing…
As part of the activities of the women-led advocacy project, Strengthening Women in Mining (SWIM) We the People hosted women from 5 mining communities, Akansoko, Akwa Ikot Effanga, Abiati, Mfamosing and Mbobui all in Akamkpa and Akpabuyo Local Government Areas of Cross River state. The town hall gathering was planned as a space to engage with…
On July 3, 2025, We the People in collaboration with Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), held a webinar titled “Ending Gas Flaring and Reducing Methane Emissions: Policy Options and Community Action.” The discussion brought together policy analysts, civil society leaders, and community advocates to examine Nigeria’s efforts to curb methane emissions and end routine gas flaring,…
Port Harcourt — Victims of hydrocarbon pollution in the Niger Delta have cried out over years of neglect, deteriorating health, and environmental degradation caused by oil exploration activities, as they demand urgent government intervention and justice from multinational oil...
Victims of hydrocarbon pollution in the Niger Delta have shared harrowing accounts of the devastating health and environmental consequences of hydrocarbon pollution, urging the government and oil companies to take immediate...
On Wednesday, June 11th, We the People hosted a community dialogue on the health impacts of hydrocarbon pollution in the Niger Delta which brought together medical doctors and other health professionals, scientists, civic society advocates, and hydrocarbon pollution survivors to discuss the toll of pollution on the human body and environment. The Niger Delta continues to…
A civil society group under the aegis of ‘We The People,’ has threatened that if efforts to get the government and companies to clean up the hydrocarbon polluted Niger Delta environment and pay compensation fails, it would be left with no option...
Members of the Egi community in Rivers state's Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area are taking on multinational oil firms for ecological and health justice after at least 60 years of operation in their area. The call came during a town hall meeting hosted by We the People as part of its ongoing Community Dialogue series, which aims…
On this World Environment Day, We the People calls on the government of Cross River State to immediately make policies and establish frameworks aimed at protecting the remaining rainforest and mangroves located in the state. We note that Cross River state has the largest remaining natural rainforests in Nigeria. Most of these areas have been protected…
Concerned with the rising marginalization of young people in Nigeria’s democratic process and the routine abuse of their rights, We the People with the support of the European Union has initiated a project- #IncludeNaija- aimed at reversing the trend and ensuring that Nigerian youths participate more intensely and actively in the country’s leadership; and are better…
On May 14, 2025, We the People met with women leaders, clan head, advisers, and youth leaders from the Mfamosing community in Cross River state, where French limestone quarrying company and cement giant LaFarge has been carrying out limestone mining with serious ecological and social impacts. The purpose of the engagement was to publicly introduce We…
On Friday, May 9, 2025, We the People inaugurated the fourth cohort of its Rights Academy at the Conference Hall, We the People, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, welcoming 22 students into the 15-week training and mentorship fellowship. The Rights Academy is focused on nurturing young activists and campaigners committed to addressing ecological crises and rights…
In commemoration of the International Human Rights Day, We the People organized a capacity strengthening workshop on December 10, 2024, for 30 community women focused on identifying and addressing ecological injustice. The event which held in Calabar, Cross River state highlighted that women experience increased marginalization and are disproportionately impacted by ecological risks, including those stemming…
How do oil companies manage the narrative on climate change, especially in communities where they extract fossil fuels, but are also heavily impacted by climate change? In this episode of our radio documentary, we visit Akinima and Joinkrama communities in the Niger Delta. In these communities, Shell and its partners have sold a narrative to communities…
In January 2024, Shell surprising announced Renaissance Energy as the winner of its bid to sell its onshore assets. This company was only created in 2022 and has never carried out a business transaction. In this episode, we look closely at Renaissance. We examine the ownership of the company and the uncanny relationship it has with…
On January 16, 2024, Shell announced through a statement on its website that it had reached an agreement to sell its Nigerian onshore subsidiary- Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC)-, to a relatively unknown entity called Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited. The statement brought to a close several months of speculation on the…
On the 10th of November 1995, the Nigerian military junta headed by General Sani Abacha authorized the hanging of Ken Saro-Wiwa, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine. The 9 were instrumental in mobilizing Ogonis under the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), and…
On Friday, 8th November 2024, We the People held a webinar titled "COP29 and the Unfinished Struggle for Environmental Justice" to shed light on the enduring relevance of Ken Saro-Wiwa's legacy in the fight for environmental justice. Revisiting Saro-Wiwa’s bold resistance against Shell in Ogoniland, the webinar underscored the need to remove fossil fuel companies from…
In May 2021, CEO of Shell, Mr. Ben van Beurden announced at its annual general meeting that the company will be divesting its crude oil assets from the Niger Delta, effectively bringing to a close nearly 70 years of Shell’s profitable crude oil venture in Nigeria’s Niger Delta. Justifying the decision to divest, the CEO explained…
On Wednesday, September 25th, 2024, We the People hosted a high-level meeting with the Head of Operations of the European Union (EU) Delegation in Nigeria, Massimo De Luca. The meeting, part of the ongoing ‘Community of Practice’ to improve the Civil Society regulatory environment in Nigeria chaired by We the People and executed by Global Rights…
On the 23rd of September, We the People partnered Tipping Point, Bertha Foundation, War on Want, the People’s Health Tribunal, and Climate Reparations to host a webinar titled “Stop Shell, Reparations for the Niger Delta. The event centered on holding Shell accountable for decades of environmental devastation and degradation in Nigeria’s Niger Delta, dating back to…
On September 3, 2024, We the People held a townhall meeting in Ikarama community, Bayelsa State, following the release of the second episode of its podcast documenting the devastating impact of oil extraction in the community and the culpability of Shell and Agip-Eni, the operating oil companies. The gathering included community chiefs and a wide cross-section…
How credible is the claim that Shell and other oil companies are divesting because Niger Delta locals are pressuring them for handouts and destroying their equipment? In this episode of our radio documentary, we chat with experts about the myriad controversies surrounding Shell's planned divestment and how the firm is spinning a disinformation campaign to avoid…
‘Living with Oil’ examines the true cost of oil extraction in the Niger Delta and makes a case for accountability from multinational oil companies. Play video