Oil pollution threatens Nigeria’s sustainability goals, experts warn

Experts at the second NNPC Foundation Symposium on Energy and Environmental Communication, held at Pan-Atlantic University in Lagos, warned that oil pollution and environmental challenges are undermining Nigeria’s sustainability efforts. Prof Angela Nwammuo, a professor of Mass Communication at Southern Delta University, highlighted severe degradation in oil-producing areas, including oil spills, gas flaring, and pipeline leakages contaminating water bodies and farmlands. She noted these issues have led to public health risks, social unrest, and economic instability, particularly in the Niger Delta region. Nwammuo stressed that Nigeria’s environmental challenges—such as flooding, erosion, drought, and poor waste management—are worsening due to climate change and inadequate governance. These issues threaten agricultural productivity, food security, and livelihoods nationwide. She also identified environmental illiteracy as a major barrier to sustainability, citing low awareness among citizens in both urban and rural areas. To address these challenges, Nwammuo advocated for strategic environmental communication, including awareness campaigns, stakeholder engagement, and policy advocacy. She called for proactive measures beyond reactive disaster responses, emphasizing the need for government agencies and corporations to integrate environmental communication into their operations. Traditional and religious leaders were also highlighted as key partners in driving grassroots environmental awareness. The two-day symposium, organized by Pan-Atlantic University’s Centre for Media and Communication Research in partnership with the NNPC Foundation, brought together academics, media, policymakers, and development stakeholders. Participants discussed the role of environmental communication in promoting sustainable development and climate resilience in Nigeria.