Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has called for urgent international action to address the devastating effects of environmental degradation and climate change on coastal communities in the Niger Delta. Speaking at the inaugural DeltasUnite Summit organised by the United Nations Convention on Conserving of River Deltas (UNCCRD) in Bangkok, Thailand, Governor Diri proposed a global fund for remediation and restoration, as well as sanctions for polluters responsible for ecological damage in the region.
According to a statement by Daniel Alabrah, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, the four-day summit, held at the Asian Institute of Technology, brought together delegates from 24 countries to discuss the preservation and sustainability of river deltas worldwide.
Governor Diri, who also chairs the UNCCRD Governance Committee, emphasised the dire situation facing Bayelsa State and the broader Niger Delta, where decades of oil exploration have left a legacy of pollution, habitat destruction, and declining livelihoods.
โRiver deltas worldwide are under threat, but for us in the Niger Delta, this is a matter of life and death,โ Governor Diri declared in his keynote address. โOver half a century of oil exploration has scarred our environment, destroyed our deltas, and robbed our people of their dignity and well-being.โ
Governor Diri highlighted the catastrophic impact of oil spills and gas flaring on Bayelsa State, citing a major spill in November 2021 that lasted 38 days and affected over 50 fishing communities in Nembe. The spill, originating from an oil well previously operated by Shell and later acquired by AITEO, contaminated the Santa Barbara River and surrounding creeks, devastating local ecosystems and livelihoods.
โThe laws governing oil resources in Nigeria are lopsided, leaving state governments powerless to address such crises effectively,โ Governor Diri lamented. He recalled the state governmentโs intervention to control the spill, underscoring the need for constitutional reforms to empower states in environmental protection efforts.
The governor also referenced the findings of the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission, established in 2018, which documented the severe consequences of oil and gas exploration in the region. The commissionโs report, titled โAn Environmental Genocide: Counting the Environmental Cost of Oil in Bayelsa State,โ revealed alarming statistics, including 16,000 infant deaths in 2012, 97% of affected communities facing food insecurity, and the loss of 40% of the stateโs mangrove forests.
In addition to oil pollution, Governor Diri highlighted the threats posed by coastal erosion, ocean surges, and saltwater encroachment due to rising sea levels. He listed several vulnerable communities, including Agge, Orobiri, Bilabiri, Amatu, and Aghoro in Ekeremor Local Government Area, as well as Ezetu, Foropa, Koluama, Odioama, Okpoama, Akassa, Twon-Brass, and Sangana in Southern Ijaw and Brass Local Government Areas.
โWe need urgent and collective assistance to dredge our watercourses and erect shore protection to address the climate crisis and protect our most vulnerable communities,โ Governor Diri urged. โThe very survival of our people hangs in the balance.โ
Governor Diri commended the United Nations for its support during the devastating 2022 floods in Bayelsa State, which the federal government largely neglected. He described the approval of the UNCCRD at COP28 in Dubai in 2023 as a โwatershed opportunityโ to halt the assault on the worldโs deltas.
The governor proposed a Global Deltas Action Plan (GDAP) based on three pillars: empowering local communities in climate adaptation decision-making, investing in nature-based solutions such as mangrove restoration and regenerative agriculture, and prioritizing global climate financing for vulnerable delta communities. He also called for the establishment of a global fund for remediation and restoration, emphasizing that environmental justice must be recognized as a fundamental human right.
โThe degradation of river deltas will no longer be tolerated,โ Governor Diri asserted. โThis summitโs white paper must be a declaration of intent, a binding commitment to secure the future of our ecosystems.โ
Governor Diri urged governments, multilateral institutions, corporate bodies, NGOs, philanthropic foundations, and international financial institutions to establish a dedicated budget for the operationalization of the UNCCRD. He also proposed the creation of a โGlobal Deltas Dayโ to reaffirm commitments to delta preservation.
โWe are the guardians of the deltas, and we will not let them be diminished,โ Governor Diri concluded. โOur commonality should not be rooted in victimhood but in our unyielding spirit, collective wisdom, and firm commitment to protecting the deltas that give us life.โ
The Bayelsa State delegation to the summit included prominent figures such as the National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Amb. Boladei Igali, and several state officials, underscoring the importance of the issue to the region.
As the summit continues, Governor Diriโs impassioned plea has set the stage for meaningful dialogue and action to address the existential threats facing the Niger Delta and other vulnerable deltas worldwide.