President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is facing calls to thoroughly review and potentially reverse divestment policies enacted within Nigeria’s oil sector under the previous leadership of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). Environmental activist Celestine AkpoBari has urged the new heads of these agencies to address what he describes as deepening environmental injustices faced by oil-producing communities.

The demand comes in the wake of resignations by former CEOs Farouk Ahmed of NMDPRA and Gbenga Komolafe of NUPRC. These departures followed accusations of corruption leveled against Ahmed by Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Refinery. President Tinubu has since appointed Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan and Saidu Mohammed to lead the respective regulatory bodies.

AkpoBari, who also leads the MIIDEEKOR Environmental Development Initiative, views the change in leadership as a critical juncture to re-establish transparency and accountability in the governance of Nigeria’s vital petroleum industry. He emphasized that the current divestment practices have disproportionately harmed the Niger Delta region.

He specifically lauded Aliko Dangote for his “courageous exposure” of alleged corruption and regulatory capture within the petroleum regulatory agencies. AkpoBari highlighted the severe environmental degradation and its impact on the livelihoods and health of communities in the Niger Delta.

“These policies have facilitated the exit of international oil companies from onshore assets without adequate remediation of legacy pollution, leaving host communities burdened with contaminated lands, waterways, and health crises,” AkpoBari stated. His organization is dedicated to advocating for the environmental protection of these devastated communities.

AkpoBari’s call to action is directed at the incoming chief executives, urging an immediate review and potential reversal of divestment policies and orders implemented by their predecessors. He believes this is a crucial step towards rectifying decades of environmental neglect and ensuring a more equitable future for the affected populations.

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Keywords: Nigeria oil sector, divestment policies, environmental injustice, Tinubu, NMDPRA, NUPRC, corruption allegations, Niger Delta communities