LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Alarmed by worsening environmental damage and rising public health risks, the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide has given Nigeria’s Federal Government a 60-day deadline to begin comprehensive cleanup of oil-polluted communities or face sweeping disruptions to oil production.
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has escalated pressure on the Federal Government, warning that continued inaction on oil pollution in Ijaw communities poses a grave threat to human health, livelihoods, and environmental survival.
The warning was contained in a statement issued at the close of the IYC National Convention held over the weekend in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Signed by IYC President, Dr. Alaye Theophilus, the document accused decades of oil exploration and production of leaving behind toxic contamination with severe consequences for residents.
“The convention unequivocally condemns the persistent ecological damage, oil pollution, and environmental degradation in Ijaw territories. The Federal Government is hereby given a final and non-negotiable 60 days to commence visible, comprehensive clean-up and remediation efforts,” the statement stated.
According to the council, unchecked pollution has compromised water sources, farmlands, and air quality, heightening disease risks and undermining economic survival in oil-producing areas. The IYC said its ultimatum is modeled after the Ogoniland remediation framework, insisting that continued extraction without environmental accountability is unjust.
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To reinforce its position, the council announced the formation of a mobilization and sensitization committee tasked with engaging Ijaw communities and key stakeholders. The committee will coordinate awareness and preparedness should the government fail to respond within the stipulated timeframe, including plans to halt oil and gas operations across Ijaw territories.
While stressing that the demand is not targeted at any ethnic group, the IYC framed its action as a call for environmental justice and sustainable development. The group acknowledged ongoing remediation efforts in Ogoniland but urged the Federal Government to urgently reassess the leadership of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).
The statement specifically called for the removal of HYPREP Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarin Zabbey, and the Minister of Environment, citing concerns over transparency, effectiveness, and the slow pace of implementation.
The convention’s resolutions also touched on broader governance issues, expressing confidence in Rivers State Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara and declaring support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.
“The President has demonstrated genuine commitment to peace and stability in Rivers State, creating an enabling environment for democratic governance,” the statement noted.
The 60-day ultimatum now places environmental health in the Niger Delta firmly in the national spotlight, with the next steps expected to determine whether remediation or confrontation defines the future of oil-producing Ijaw communities.
