Pollution: CSO Demands Access To EIA Reports On Firm Drilling OML 14 In A/ Ibom
The Board of Trustees (BoT) of a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), committed to environmental justice and human rights security for the people of the Niger Delta region have expressed concerns over years of devastating impacts of oil spills, gas flares and environmental degradation plaguing the rural Niger Delta communities’ and residents.
Therefore, the Network Advancement Program for Poverty and Disaster Risk Reduction (NAPPDRR), in the region expressed worry over the what it described as the unrestrained activities of oil firms operating in the area, recalling that “despite series of complaints, the reckless exploratory and extractive businesses continue without following the international best practices as enshrined in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA)”.
He revealed that the locals around the Subbs Creek Forest Reserve around the Eket, Esit Eket and Ibeno oil – bearing communities where Tulcan Energy Resources Limited (TERL), operators of the Oil Mining License (OML) 14, had protested over the alleged destruction of the forest resources and other environmental ecosystems including marine resources with attendant job losses to farmers and fishermen.
Consequently, the CSO has said plans have been concluded to investigate the activities of the TERL, with a view to ascertaining whether the mining processes of the OML 14, within the forest reserve complied with the international best practices as enshrined in the relevant provisions of the PIA, and has written to the State ministry of environment demanding for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report of the firm in line with the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act.
A letter to that effect, signed by the NAPDDRR’s Executive Director, Hon. Emem Edoho, addressed to the Commissioner, Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, Hon. Nsikak Ekong, through
Idongesit Nkanga State civil service secretariat, Uyo, dated June 1, 2026, and made available to Journalists, was entitled; Formal Request for Certified Copy of EIA Report – Tulcan Energy Resources Ltd, Stubbs Creek Operations, OML 14 Pursuant to FOI Act 2011, EIA Act Cap E12 LFN 2004, and PIA, 2021.
“The Incorporated Trustees of Network Advancement Program for Poverty and Disaster Risk Reduction – NAPPDRR, an environmental and climate justice NGO operating in the Niger Delta, respectfully requests a certified copy of the full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report for Tulcan Energy Resources Ltd’s oil and gas operations at Stubbs Creek, OML 14.
“This request is made pursuant to the
Freedom of Information Act, 2011 – Sections 1(1), 2(3), 4(1) which grant any person the right to access public records, with a 7-day response mandate under Section 4(1).
“The EIA Act, Cap E12 LFN 2004 – Section 7 mandates public participation and access to EIA reports for projects likely to impact the environment.
Petroleum Industry Act, 2021 – Sections 102, 235, 236 on environmental management, host community engagement, and disclosure obligations.
National Environmental Regulations and the *Aarhus Convention principles on access to environmental information,” the letter noted.
Edoho, therefore, reminded the State government that “as an environmental watchdog in the Niger Delta, we require this EIA to independently verify Tulcan Energy’s mitigation measures, assess cumulative impacts on Stubbs Creek communities, and monitor compliance with environmental and human health safeguards, pointing out that “continued oil and gas operations without public scrutiny pose direct risks to livelihoods, water, and air quality in the area.”
“We, therefore, request that you grant this application and provide the certified EIA report within the seven working days stipulated by the FOI Act, pleading that “If any portion is exempted, please provide the non-exempted portions and state the grounds for exemption as required by Section 4(2) of the Act,” assuring that “NAPPDRR is prepared to pay any reasonable administrative or reproduction fees upon notification.”
As part of the mitigation process with gas flaring and oil pollution threatening the population, Edoho, who noted that such wanton emissions have inflicted the locals with cancer, blindness, early menopause in women and impotency in men, demanded the inclusion of the affected communities, especially the impacted Esit Eket LGA in the company’s Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) fund
