Stakeholders from oil-producing communities in Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have called for stricter enforcement of environmental regulations, greater accountability from oil companies, and increased awareness of the rights guaranteed to host communities under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
The demands were made at a one-day community sensitisation and capacity-building workshop held in Eket and organised by Onna LGA stakeholders in collaboration with Policy Alert. The programme brought together community leaders, women and youth representatives, civil society organisations, and experts in the extractive sector to discuss the environmental and socio-economic effects of oil and gas activities.
Participants stressed the need for comprehensive public enlightenment on the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, noting that many residents of oil-producing communities remain unaware of the legal protections and development opportunities available to them under the law.
Opening the workshop, an indigene of Onna LGA, Donald Ikpe, expressed concern over the worsening environmental conditions in the area, saying the situation has become a source of anxiety for indigenes living abroad. He particularly highlighted reports of persistent gas flaring in Ikot Ebekpo and Ikot Ebidang communities.
He urged residents to use the knowledge gained from the workshop to pursue lawful advocacy aimed at protecting their environment, health, and livelihoods.
Executive Director of Policy Alert, Tijah Bolton-Akpan, said empowering host communities with knowledge is essential for ensuring that both government regulators and oil companies are held accountable for their responsibilities.
According to him, gas flaring has continued in the Niger Delta despite existing laws because affected communities have largely been excluded from decision-making processes.
He noted that while the Petroleum Industry Act promises development, participation, and environmental protection for host communities, those commitments can only become meaningful when residents understand their rights and actively demand their implementation.
The workshop also focused on the Host Community Development Trust established under the PIA to ensure oil-producing communities benefit directly from petroleum operations.
Leading a session on the subject, Executive Director of the Ibom Peer Foundation, Mfon Gabriel, explained the rights and responsibilities of host communities under the Act. Participants observed that despite the enactment of the law, many communities in Onna have yet to experience tangible development from the trust funds and remain largely uninformed about their legal entitlements.
The health implications of gas flaring and hydrocarbon pollution also featured prominently during the discussions. Investigative journalist and PREMIUM TIMES reporter, Ekemini Simon, highlighted the dangers posed by prolonged exposure to methane emissions and other pollutants, warning that women, children, and elderly persons are among those most vulnerable to the effects of environmental pollution.
Participants were also reminded that Nigeria remained among the countries with the highest levels of gas flaring globally in 2025, underscoring the need for urgent regulatory action.
A documentary titled *Flaring Lives: The Human Cost of Nigeria’s Methane Emissions* was screened during the workshop, illustrating the devastating impact of gas flaring across communities in the Niger Delta. Attendees said the experiences captured in the film closely reflected the realities in their own communities.
At the end of the programme, participants adopted a communiqué calling for stricter enforcement of gas-flaring regulations, greater transparency in the management of Host Community Development Trust funds, and public disclosure of sanctions imposed on defaulting oil companies.
They also advocated stronger community participation in decisions affecting host communities and demanded the prompt cleanup of polluted environments.
The participants pledged to embark on grassroots awareness campaigns to educate residents on their rights under the Petroleum Industry Act, maintaining that sustained advocacy is necessary to ensure government agencies and oil companies fulfil their obligations to host communities.