Some environmental experts in the Niger Delta have called for urgent interventions towards tackling persistent environmental pollution in the region.

The experts spoke at the opening of the 2026 press week of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Port Harcourt.

They stated that persistent pollution of the environment had led to increased crises and destruction of means of livelihood.

The 2026 Correspondents Chapel press week is with the theme: “The Imperatives of Comprehensive Clean-Up of the Niger Delta Environment: Role of the Media.

Speaking at the event, the Traditional Ruler of Upata Kingdom, Eze Felix Otuwarikpo, called for a review of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Otuwaripkpo stated that the law placed responsibility for oil theft and pipeline vandalism on host communities.

He said that although Section 437 of the PIA provided for the use of host communities’ fund to repair oil assets damaged through sabotage, oil companies had continued to rely on security agencies to protect pipelines.

“They do not involve the host communities in safeguarding the pipelines and other oil facilities.

“Host communities should be given responsibility to safeguard the oil pipelines as this will produce a better result,” he said.

The traditional ruler blamed most oil pipeline leak in the region on sabotage, and urged the Federal Government to protect the interest of host communities in the Niger Delta.

The National Vice President, NUJ, Zone F, Mr Opaka Dokubo, stated that mangroves which once sustained livelihoods in the Niger Delta had been converted to tank farms.

Dokubo said that before the advent of oil exploration, people in the region depended on resources in the mangrove to put food on their table.

He urged the oil firms, Federal and state Governments in the region to give priority attention to the health and welfare of the residents.

“It is from Niger Delta region that oil and natural gas are extracted to grow the nation’s economy, our lives should be protected,” he said.

In a remark, an environmental activist, Chief Constance Meju, urged journalists to humanise environmental stories, and noted that the environmental crisis in the Niger Delta region was underreported.

“Crime is increasing because the region has lost her sources of livelihoods. Relevant authorities are urged to clean up the Niger Delta region from pollution, and alleviate the suffering of the people,” she said.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Mr Amaechi Okonkwo, described the event as a call to action on the continued degradation of the Niger Delta environment.

Okonkwo stated that despite being the economic backbone of Nigeria for decades, the Niger Delta remained one of the most environmentally devastated regions in the world.

“The land, rivers, creeks and forests have suffered extensive pollution arising from oil exploration and exploitation activities.

“Communities that once depended on fishing and farming for survival now struggle daily with contaminated water, destroyed farmlands, loss of biodiversity and serious health challenges,” he said.

Okonkwo said that the media should continue to educate the public on environmental sustainability and support initiatives that aimed to restore the Niger Delta ecosystem.

The press week was supported by Renaissance Africa Energy Company, Nigeria LNG and Kebetkache Women Development Centre