Right Livelihood Foundation laureates demand environmental justice in Ogoniland (Nigeria)

Publish Date: 
Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Right Livelihood Award laureates from Africa and Middle East demanded action to rectify the pervasive environmental damages caused by decades of pollution from oil production in Ogoniland (Nigeria). In a letter to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the laureates expressed their collective concern regarding ongoing pollution in Ogoniland and the government's apparent inaction in committing to undertake a comprehensive clean-up of the devastated Ogoni environment.

In this statement, Laureates voiced their concerns about the ongoing pollution in Ogoniland and urged the Nigerian President to take action on the Ogoni UNEP report, three years after it was submitted. The 2011 report has shown e.g. that "in at least ten Ogoni communities where drinking water is contaminated with high levels of hydrocarbons, public health is seriously threatened".

The laureates asked President Goodluck to take action on the "full implementation of the recommendations of the UNEP report" taking into consideration "effective participation of the Ogoni people in all stages relating to the restoration of their environment".

To read the full letter please visit http://www.rightlivelihood.org/fileadmin/Files/Images/Conferences_Meetings/Cairo_2014/Petition_Ogoni_UNEP.pdf

The Right Livelihood Award Foundation - in partnership with SEKEM (RLA Laureate 2003) - hosted a regional conference in Cairo, Egypt from 6 to 9 June. The regional conference brought Laureates from all over Africa and the Middle East to share their experiences and struggles in their different areas of work: from human rights to environmental protection, women’s health, ecologically and socially sound agriculture, as well as justice and community healing after violent conflict. 

For more information on the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, please visit http://www.mosop.org/