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...
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...
The plaintiffs say section 257 of PIA unjustly puts the liability for oil theft and vandalism of oil infrastructure on the host communities.
Some natives of oil-bearing communities in Niger Delta and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have dragged the National Assembly to Court over Section 257 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Some indigenes of oil-bearing communities in the Niger Delta region and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have instituted legal action against the National Assembly and Attorney General of the Federation/Minister of Justice over the passage of Section 257 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which they described as...
Some natives of oil-bearing communities in the Niger Delta and a civil society organisation have dragged the National Assembly to court over section 257 of the Petroleum Industry...
While the Petroleum Industry Act passed in 2021, contains key provisions aimed at addressing long standing development challenges in oil producing communities in Nigeria, several provisions on the other hand have the potential to cause disaffection and conflict between oil firms and host communities. For the example, provisions for the establishment and management of the Host…
While the Petroleum Industry Act passed in 2021, contains key provisions aimed at addressing long standing development challenges in oil producing communities in Nigeria, several provisions on the other hand have the potential to cause disaffection and conflict between oil firms and host communities. For the example, provisions for the establishment and management of the Host…
On the 20th of October, 2023, We the People held a webinar with the title, “The Revolution Next Time: Police Reforms and Accountability for Atrocities Since the #EndSARS Protests”. The virtual conference aimed at examining the level of reforms that have taken place since the nationwide protests that took place in 2020. The #EndSARS protests was…
The Petroleum Industry Act, passed in 2021, has been hailed as critical legislation for tackling long-standing development difficulties in Nigeria's oil-producing areas. The 'Host Communities Development' chapter provides a framework for benefit sharing and development planning. While the objectives appear to be laudable and encouraging on the surface, some elements have the potential to produce dissatisfaction and…
This photobook chronicles the hardships and challenges of Niger Delta communities devastated by the 2022 floods caused by climate change. Since 2012, these communities have been ravaged by yearly floods, which have resulted in deaths, displacements, destruction of homes, and disruption of livelihoods. Unfortunately, governments at the national and sub-national levels have been slow to establish…
Ecology-focused Civil Society Organizations have raised an alarm over the presence of licensed miners inside the Cross River State National Park, describing ...
On the 25th-27th July, 2023 We the People organized a learning and exchange workshop for forest, oil, gas and solid mineral extractive communities in the Niger Delta. Recent research and advocacy engagements by the organization has unraveled similarities in the economic and social patterns of extractives activities in various communities in the Niger Delta, irrespective of…
The National Park in Oban, Cross River state is threatened with extinction following the license issued to two mining firms by the Federal Government to operate in the restricted...
Text of Press Briefing 4 th September, 2023. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen of the Media, you are welcome to this Press Briefing organized by We the People and Development Concern (DEVCON). We have recently become aware that the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development has granted mining rights to 2 companies; Abdulrasaq & Co…
On the 1st of September, 2023, We the People hosted a webinar with communities, experts and CSOs to dissect the Petroleum Industry Act; an Act often hailed as a model for driving benefits to oil producing communities. The Nigeria Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) was enacted in August 2021 with the objective of creating a more…
Communique Issued at the End of a Virtual Consultative Meeting with Stakeholders on the Deforestation in Cross River State, with the Theme ‘Framing Strategies for Ending Deforestation and Protecting Wildlife in the Cross River State Forest’ on the 21st of July, 2023. The meeting was organized as a space for civil society actors and other traditional…
Concept Note Cross River state is currently undergoing the highest spate of deforestation in the world. All evidence and reports show unrestrained and uncontrolled logging activities in the state. While paying lip service to climate change mitigation initiatives and promising ecological protection, the last administration in the state operated a policy that permitted and even promoted…
Some concerned stakeholders have faulted the existing systems for administering flood-related humanitarian reliefs by the federal and state governments, insisting that “it is prone to corruption.”
Communities in the Niger Delta have been faced with annual climate change induced floodssince 2012. The floods have led to the loss of lives, displacement of residents, destruction ofhomes, and disruption of livelihoods. Unfortunately, governments at the national and subnational levels have not been responsive in developing effective adaptation and mitigationstrategies to reduce adverse impacts occasioned…
Stakeholders on environment have decried the alarming rate of deforestation in Cross River state through illegal logging, saying the state government and other stakeholders must rise to the occasion.
Environmentalists from the Niger Delta region have called for conscious action from the federal government, multinationals and civil society organisations in addressing challenges to climate change on the region.
Since 2012, flooding has become a frequent and devastating occurrence in Nigeria, resulting in significant damage to communities, infrastructure, lives and properties. 2022 witnessed severe flooding that inflicted immense hardship on numerous Nigerian communities– especially those situated in the Niger Delta. The floods, which is now an annual phenomenon, led to the loss of lives, displacement…
Stakeholders at a one-day conference have called on the Cross River State governor, Prince Bassey Otu, to disband the newly constituted task force on illegal logging in the state. The forum made up of community persons, traditional rulers, civil society organizations, representatives of MDAs, paramilitary agencies, and the academia, met in Calabar, the Cross River State…
A coalition of stakeholders in Cross River state has faulted the immediate past governor of the state, Prof Ben Ayade for failing to control the forests or sustain the status quo that his predecessors had instituted. The stakeholders stated this when they converged in Calabar, the Cross River capital for a multi-stakeholder conference on deforestation...
Stakeholders in forest conservation in Cross River State have faulted the recently constituted committee by the state governor, Senator Bassey Otu. The conference, which was the second in the series, was organised by a civil society organisation, We the People, spearheaded by renowned conservationist, Ken Henshaw, in partnership with...
Environmental experts and community leaders have urged Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State to immediately disband the anti-deforestation taskforce he appointed about a week ago.
In a thought-provoking webinar organized by We the People and held on the 8th of June 2023, renowned experts and activists shed light on the need for accountability in the moves by oil companies in Nigeria to divest their onshore and shallow water assets. At the webinar titled ‘DIRTY EXIT: EXAMINING THE DOWNSIDE OF OIL COMPANY…
In the eight years that Prof Benedict Ayade has governed, Cross River State has lost a minimum of $200million from the United Nations Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation programme.
Concerned about the increasing degradation of the Cross River State rain and mangrove forest, a group of environmentalists have urged the governor-elect, Senator Bassey Otu to end the wave of deforestation.
A coalition of environment and ecology-focused civil society organizations under the aegis of ‘WE THE PEOPLE’ in Cross River State have called on the state’s incoming governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, to read the riot act to those destroying forests in the state.
Open Letter to the Governor-Elect of Cross River State His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu on Strategies for Protecting the Cross River Forests and Reversing the Negative Trends...
Concerned about the increasing degradation of the Cross River State rain and mangrove forest, a group of environmentalists have urged the governor-elect, Senator Bassey Otu to end the wave of deforestation.
A collective of environment and ecology- focused Civil Society Organizations in Cross River State have written an open letter to the incoming Governor of Cross River, Sen. Bassey Otu to go after illegal loggers and destroyers of the State’s forest.
A group of environmentalists operating under the aegis of “WE THE PEOPLE” has charged the Cross River State governor-elect Senator Bassey Edet Otu not to hesitate to fix the escalating threat of deforestation once Inaugurated into office as state chief executive.
In almost a decade, the Cross River state government’s policy with respect to forest management has largely failed. As a result, the state has witnessed unprecedented forest loss which has now extended into the state forest reserves and the national park. The Roundtable will leverage on the emergence of a new administration in Cross River State…
On the 13 th of May, 2023, oil impacted communities across Africa and thousands of climate justice activists joined the People’s Heath Tribunal to hear testimonies from frontline communities on the negative impacts of extractivism on their health, environment and livelihoods. The event which was organized by a coalition of organizations including We the People, People’s…
Loss and Damage is a climate change response framework adopted during COP27 in Egypt, which recognizes people and communities that have suffered the effect of climate change such as desertification, flooding, loss of livelihoods, heatwave, wildfires, amongst others, due to no fault of theirs.
At a conference on Loss and Damage held on May 9, 2023 and organized by We the People, renowned experts, activists and members of frontline communities discuss critical perspectives on Loss and Damage. The conference shed light on the origins of the Loss and Damage conversation, the ongoing international debate around it, and the urgent need…