The Summit of the Indigenous Peoples
Theme: Addressing Environmental Impact of Oil & Gas Extraction on Local Communities in Nigeria Niger Delta Region
Venue: Ori Oke Iwamimo, Ilaje LGA, Ondo State – One of the Abandoned Impacted Communities
Focus: Local to Global Consultation; Peer-to-Peer Climate Action Towards CoP 30
Introduction
From across the oil-impacted territories of the Niger Delta and beyond, Indigenous communities and environmental justice advocates gathered at Ori Oke Iwamimo, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, for a historic summit. The chosen venue—a symbolic site of abandonment and environmental degradation—underscored the urgency of addressing the devastating legacy of oil and gas extraction in the region.
Convened under the theme “Addressing Environmental Impact of Oil & Gas Extraction on Local Communities in Nigeria Niger Delta Region”, the summit served as a local-to-global consultation platform, fostering peer-to-peer climate action ahead of CoP 30. It brought together grassroots voices, community leaders, climate advocates, legal experts, and youth activists committed to environmental justice and sustainable development.
The summit, an initiative of Connected Advocacy brought together indigenous voices, policymakers, and environmental advocates, women , youth ,academia , traditional and religious leaders.
Speaking at the opening of the event, why are we here? the Executive Director of Connected Advocacy, Prince Israel Orekha, described the summit as a unique opportunity to understand the environmental crisis due to extractivism, harness indigenous knowledge, and develop actionable plans for climate resilience that will build capacity from the ground, resistance against long standing injustice of the impact on front line communities, who bear the brunt of extraction of oil Gas in the region. Our voices needs to be heard , is time for us to unify the struggle, speak with one voice and demand remediation for the damage done to our biodiversity and our traditional means of survival, time for action is now , lets us work together , get organize and demand justice for a sustainable future.
His Royal Highness, Oba Jabez Alebiosu Ikudeibu JP. Oba Alaafia II, the community’s traditional ruler, expressed his gratitude to the NGO for its purposeful partnership. He called for urgent and continued action to save Ori-Oke Iwamimo and other frontline communities in the region from worsening environmental degradation.
First facilitators, Dr. Felix Ikuesan, a lecturer at Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, emphasized the need for the government to prioritize embankment projects that are ecofriendly in the affected communities. According to him, this would lead to more sustainable development and offer protection against the devastating impact of sea incursion. One unique thing about Dr Felix he spoke in the indigenous knowledge because he is from the counties affected.
Second facilitator, Dr. Olutomisin Orogbemi, who delivered a talk on “Understanding the Crisis: Environmental Impacts of Oil and Gas Extraction in Local Communities,” used Ilaje Local Government Area as a case study. The senior lecturer urged community members to live more deliberately, noting that human activities also contribute significantly to environmental challenges in the Niger Delta.
The community youth leader, Mr. Ogunyemi Olorunwa Yeto, called for stronger community resistance against sea encroachment. “The government must act now before our community is completely overtaken by water,” he warned. He raised concern over the destructive activities of oil and gas companies, saying: “If urgent steps are not taken to remediate the impacts, by 2060, our community could be completely submerged.”
A women’s leader in the community, Mrs. Isogun Toyin, shared her distress: “Fishing is our main occupation, but due to pollution, we can no longer fish as before. Harvests are low, and we often find dead fish due to water contamination. Where do we go from here?” she asked.
Summit Objectives and Key Sessions
1. Highlighting the Consequences of Oil Extraction
Panelists and community representatives examined in detail the environmental degradation caused by decades of unchecked oil extraction, including:
- Soil degradation that has rendered once fertile lands barren.
- Water contamination leading to loss of aquatic biodiversity and unsafe drinking water.
- Air pollution causing chronic respiratory illnesses and other health challenges.
The session emphasized the direct link between environmental destruction and the erosion of traditional livelihoods, health, and Indigenous cultural heritage.
2. Raising Awareness on Socio-Economic Disruptions
Speakers addressed how extractive activities have:
- Displaced communities through oil spills and gas flaring.
- Destroyed fishing and farming economies.
- Undermined traditional leadership and communal decision-making systems.
Testimonies from affected individuals highlighted the deep emotional, spiritual, and economic losses that are rarely reflected in mainstream development dialogues.
3. Exploring Legal and Environmental Rights
This session explored:
- Legal frameworks at the national and international level that recognize the rights of Indigenous peoples.
- The role of climate litigation and community-led legal actions in holding corporations and governments accountable.
- Case studies from local and global contexts where environmental justice has been pursued through the courts.
Participants called for stronger enforcement of the Nigerian Petroleum Industry Act, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
4. Advocating for Sustainable Development
The summit called for:
- A shift from oil dependency to renewable energy pathways that prioritize community participation and ownership.
- Investments in solar and wind infrastructure, eco-tourism, agroecology, and green jobs for youth and women.
- Inclusion of Indigenous knowledge systems in environmental planning and restoration projects.
Communities emphasized that a just transition must be built on repair, restitution, and resilience.
5. Fostering Unity and Collective Action
Participants reaffirmed their shared struggle and commitment to building a unified Indigenous-led environmental movement across the Niger Delta and beyond. Strategic sessions were held to:
- Build networks of solidarity across regions.
- Share tools for community organizing, advocacy, and media engagement.
- Forge new alliances with regional and international partners in preparation for CoP 30.
Interactive Session Highlights
In breakout groups, participants developed actionable recommendations on:
- Short-term solutions such as clean-up initiatives, emergency healthcare, and community compensation schemes.
- Long-term strategies including legal reform, reforestation, youth training, and climate resilience programs.
- Strategies to demand accountability from the government, oil corporations, and international financial institutions complicit in the region’s exploitation.
People’s Declaration
“We, the peoples of the Niger Delta impacted communities, demand that this summit be a turning point in the fight for climate justice. The time for lip service and empty promises has passed. We must act with urgency, integrity, and accountability.”
“We call on governments, corporations, and international bodies to commit to real, tangible actions that uphold the rights of Indigenous peoples, protect our environment, and ensure a just transition to a sustainable future for all.”
Conclusion and Next Steps
The summit concluded with a renewed sense of purpose and a shared roadmap towards CoP 30, where Indigenous voices from Nigeria will play a critical role in shaping global climate policy. As a direct outcome of the summit, working groups were formed to:
- Draft a People’s Action Plan for Environmental Justice in the Niger Delta.
- Establish a Climate Justice Monitoring Network to track corporate and government accountability.
- Prepare for a delegation to CoP 30 with grassroots representation and clear policy demands.
The journey from Ori Oke Iwamimo is just the beginning. With unity, clarity, and unrelenting action, Indigenous communities are reclaiming their rights and leading the transition to a just and sustainable future.
