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Advocacy group backs Nigeria’s plan on increased fine for oil spill

With the looming approval of the Senate for a $5 billion fine against oil companies for any oil spill in the Niger Delta, there is … Continue reading Advocacy group backs Nigeria’s plan on increased fine for oil spill


With the looming approval of the Senate for a $5 billion fine against oil companies for any oil spill in the Niger Delta, there is a growing call for the federal government to pass the law holding oil companies accountable for pollution and plundering.

Lending his voice in an interview with Channels Television, the director of AVAAZ (Voice in a number of languages), an advocacy group against environmental degradation, Alex Wilks, sees the move as one that will correct all irregularities in the oil sector.

Mr Wilks appealed to the federal government to make ground breaking decisions which will end the era oil impunity and ensure that the oil giants can be tamed.

He sought that the laws must put the local communities that are destroyed by the spills ahead of the rights of the companies. “This is by clear, accountability mechanism, a clear liability in the case of spill and a clear response plan, which puts the communities first, rather than the rights of international companies.”

He noted that there is need for improved legislation that will ‘force’ the oil companies to pay-up the fines given to them rather than wrangling their way out of the fines by aggressive lobbying in major cities around the world, while environments are destroyed.

He decried the use of corporate social responsibilities in place for rebuilding the communities by oil companies, stating that what the communities need is information ranging on what will happen to their environment as a result of the oil installations and profit-sharing.