SACA, an NGO assembled legal team on the reviews of Human Rights Due Diligence Tool to create awareness on human rights and privileges violations and redress in oil producing communities .
From David Owei, Yenogoa
Again, Stakeholders Alliance for Corporate Accountability (SACA), a Non -Governmental organization in collaboration with Nigeria Agip Oil Company ( NAOC) has assembled a team of legal luminaries from the core oil producing states of the Niger Delta Region to review a tool that would be required to carry out human rights impact assessment in oil producing communities in Nigeria.
The project is being sponsored by Misean Cara of Ireland and St Patrick Missionary Society ( SPMS )
The 2- day due diligence tool review which took place in Yenagoa had in audience 21 lawyers as well as other stakeholders drawn from the oil producing communities in the four major oil producing states in the Niger Delta (Imo, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers) and civil society organizations. They brainstormed on national and regional frameworks that would used as benchmark for the assessment.
The lawyers , according to SACA were specifically selected to review all regional and national laws as they pertain to issues of environmental degradation, land acquisition , land use, and their social impact on the indigenous people, communities , engagements and establish consultations and grievance mechanism .
In his opening address, the Executive Secretary of SACA, Mr Kingsley Ozegbe noted that the Human Rights Due Diligence Committee ( HDDC) should operate in communities in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights ( UNGP ) .
He further stated that the programme is hinged on the premise of protection , respect and possible remedy of human rights breaches in the communities hosting oil companies for harmonious relationship.
According to him ” currently the risks associated with oil and gas activities in the Niger Delta Region are heightening and investment climate dimming. The oil spillages into the environment are becoming alarming and 76.24 of these spillages are caused by human interference with oil facilities.This prompted stronger team work to safeguard humanity and improve environment to attract investors and create opportunities to absorb working population that is surging daily”
Explaining further, he added that ; “On May 26, 2022, we constituted three strategic committees to address this threat.
Since then the Environmental Management Committee has been raising awareness in communities and media platforms to educate the public on risks associated with high exposure to crude oil and other petroleum products, the Agricultural Management Committee has been supporting communities to engage in a sustainable agricultural practices,and Human Rights Due Diligence Committee (HDDC) has been creating awareness on human rights and privileges to appropriately guide community actions in seeking the protection preservation and remedy of their breached rights”
According to him, the Human Rights component of the project has had two major events which involved the inauguration of Human Rights Due Diligence Committee held on May 26, 2022, and the triggers of Human Rights that occurred on June 30, 2022. “The last event gave us the opportunity to hear and integrate the views of 60 participants that were drawn from community leadership, NGOs and the academia.
“Today, August 18, 2022, we are gathered to review and reinforce a draft Human Rights Due Diligence tool with national and regional legal frameworks that will enable the HDDC to gather data on the project and appropriately advice NAOC’s management to minimize potentials on human rights breaches. Eni/NAOC have shown serious commitment to the project , so, we are hopeful that they will be integrating and acting on HDDC findings to prevent and mitigate adverse human rights impact as enshrined in principles 19 of the UNGP”
He disclosed that the Human Rights Due Diligence Committee shall be tracking effectiveness of response to verify if the risks are being addressed to properly account and share lessons on Businesses can address their impacts on human rights as indicated in principles 21 of the UNGP and Urged the lawyers to work within the ambit.
Also speaking , the Head , Legal services and enforcement of Bayelsa state office of the National Human Rights Commission ( NHRC ) ,Barr. Goselle Vinings applauded SACA and NAOC for the collaboration and partnership.
He averred that the amount of seriousness and good intent which the NGO and oil companies were pursuing to ensure human rights due diligence in the oil and gas sector , with particular reference to Niger Delta region and the nation in general would gear up in getting things right and working.
The project manager of SACA, Mr Augustine Anyio reiterated the importance of Human Rights Diligence Tool in the operations of oil majors in the nation.
He pointed out that HDDC tool review became imperative because the Multi- national oil corporations will leave the country some day, adding that if human rights diligence tools were not adequately put in place, the indigenous oil companies which would soon be leading in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources in the Niger Delta region and other parts would capitalize on the absence of human rights due diligence tool to undo their host communities to their detriment.
Participants also commented and applauded SACA on the programme.
Bar Alagoa David, legal Adviser to Bayelsa government on state civil society organizations, applauded NAOC an oil and gas company operating in the Niger Delta Region for sponsoring such a programme following a series of environmental degradation, pollution and communities’ conflict in areas of their operations.
He said” l applauded SACA , an NGO involved in corporate accountability that has put in a process of human rights Diligence Tool review that will be administered on oil companies to ensure there is compliance in the oil companies operating communities , as the essence is to engage the rural communities, the oil companies and the regulators to collaborate on the need to respect to human rights.It is surprising that NAOC is funding the programme and SACA is taking the bulls by horn. This is a welcome development”
” SACA has found out that most oil pollutions are caused by oil producing companies forcing the indigenes to protest neglect and lack of development projects”
He said oil companies ‘feed governments’ as internally generated revenue of Bayelsa state can’t do anything, but relies on what comes from oil companies.
” Budgets are based on derivatives from oil facilities and without oil, government cannot operate because the state will be obliterated without oil and that will lead to a dog eating dog situation, infant mortality and unprecedented poverty. Except there is, a win – win situation we will suffer and cannot go anywhere, we need oil to stay sustained “
Another participant, Bar Okoroji Ihunanya Chukwu, a Senior Human Rights officer at the Imo State office of the National Human Rights Commission( NHRC) also gave kudos to SACA for assembling the legal team to brainstorm on institutions and delegations that would hold oil companies accountable in terms of human rights violations as human lives are been threatened by environmental degradation caused by oil producing companies.
He said the Human Rights Diligence Committee tool will go along way for the oil companies to benchmark their work against international standards and domesticate best practices, existing legislation and implementation as found in other countries to secure life of the people where oil companies operate .
