By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
Environmental degradation remains a harsh reality in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta, with women bearing the brunt of the crisis. In Ogoniland, an area synonymous with decades of ecological devastation, hundreds of women have gathered to protest oil pollution, systemic violence, and a worsening food crisis. In this report, our Correspondent Dele Fasan takes a look at the plight of the women amid environmental degradation.
In Ogoniland, the once-silent mangroves echoed with the voices of the Ogoni Women’s Assembly as they converged with a single, urgent demand, calling for a comprehensive cleanup of their ancestral lands and are rejecting any resumption of oil activities. The Executive Director of the Lokiaka Community Development Centre, Martha Agbani, describes the gathering as a crucial mobilization driven by years of neglect.
Agbani says the legacy of oil spills continues to haunt the region, as other stakeholders stressed on the devastating effect of oil pollution on their livelihood and fishing communities. The women are demanding a seat at the table in all conversations about environmental remediation and development. They insist that without addressing the plight of women, there can be no genuine recovery or sustainable future for Ogoniland.
