The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) is asking the federal government to stand up to powerful oil companies which SERAP alleges have continued to abuse the human rights of the people of the Niger Delta with impunity for decades.

A statement issued by the group says that it is important for President Muhammadu Buhari to implement the ECOWAS court judgment which ordered the Nigerian government to punish oil companies over oil pollution and devastation in the region.

“This government should make sure that the activities of oil companies in Nigeria bring development to the people, rather than a string of needless human rights tragedies.”

SERAP says that the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan ignored the judgment and showed no political will to hold to account, oil companies that have for many years continued to destroy the livelihoods of tens of thousands of people with almost absolute impunity.