Renowned environmentalist Dr. Nnimmo Bassey has called for concerted efforts by stakeholders to protect oceans from indiscriminate pollution caused by human, industrial, and extractive activities.
Bassey made this call on Monday at a workshop held at the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) in Victoria Island, Lagos. The event was jointly organized by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), NIOMR, and the International Ocean Institute-Nigeria.
He decried the extensive pollution of oceans, emphasizing that they should not be seen merely as commodities to be exploited but as a vital common resource sustaining life, livelihoods, culture, and spirituality.
“Our oceans are under siege, and the communities that depend on them bear the brunt of pollution, displacement, and human rights abuses,” Bassey stated.
He lamented that along Nigeria’s coastline, communities are being forced from their territories, deprived of resources, and left to face the consequences of poorly regulated natural resource exploitation. He criticized economic forces that prioritize profit over people, leading to excessive resource extraction and ecological devastation.
Bassey also highlighted the environmental impact of frequent oil well blowouts, listing incidents such as Akaso Well 4, Atlanta, Bonny Terminal, Buguma Wellhead 008, Santa Barbara, and the ongoing inferno at Ororo Oil Well 1 in Awoye, Ondo State, which has been burning for nearly five years.
“These disasters are ecological crimes that contribute to climate instability and worsen the scarcity of land and water, putting entire communities at risk,” he warned.
He noted the struggles of fishermen and women whose livelihoods are threatened by industrial dredging, multinational oil companies, and corporate fishing. He pointed to Aiyetoro, once known for its strong governance and industrial strides, now on the brink of total displacement due to relentless ocean surges linked to climate change.
Bassey also spoke about Makoko’s waterfront communities, stressing that their rights to housing, food, and health are under threat from land speculators eager to displace them.
“Our fight to defend the ocean is inseparable from the fight for human rights and justice. We must resist the unchecked advances of transnational polluters and demand accountability,” he asserted.
He urged the Nigerian government to act as stewards of the environment rather than enablers of destruction. Despite signing multiple conventions and treaties on marine ecosystem protection, Bassey questioned the country’s commitment to enforcing Marine Protected Areas.
“Our constitution may recognize the right to life, but there can be no right to life without the right to a safe environment,” he said.
He called on participants—including oceanographers, marine scientists, government agencies, civil society organizations, and community leaders—to use the workshop as a platform to strategize and commit to defending the ocean.
“Coming on the heels of International Wetlands Day, we take a stand against so-called land reclamation, which is more accurately aquatic ecosystem conversion and grabbing. The destruction of wetlands and public beaches for housing estates and highways disregards the vital role oceans play in climate stability,” Bassey added.
He urged stakeholders to work towards a future where oceans are protected, human rights are upheld, and coastal communities can thrive.
