Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has called on the Federal Government and Ondo State Government to take immediate and coordinated action over the escalating environmental and humanitarian crisis in Abereke community, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, where recurring oil spills and ocean surges have devastated livelihoods and submerged large parts of the coastal settlement.
In a statement issued after a field assessment visit, CAPPA described conditions in Abereke as “devastating and fast deteriorating,” warning that residents are grappling with severe environmental degradation, economic collapse, and rising vulnerability.
“Abereke is in the throes of a preventable disaster,” said Martins Ogunlade, Associate Director at CAPPA. “What we saw is a community abandoned to the combined impacts of corporate irresponsibility and government inaction. This cannot continue.”
According to CAPPA, the most recent oil spill—allegedly linked to Guarantee Petroleum Company—occurred in October, yet its impact remains widespread and unresolved months later.
Findings from the organisation’s assessment revealed:
- Extensive oil contamination of rivers and water bodies
- Destruction of aquatic ecosystems, including fish stock depletion
- Loss of critical fishing assets such as nets, boats, and engines
- Death of domestic animals, including goats, sheep, and pigs
With fishing as the primary economic activity, the spill has effectively crippled household incomes, pushing many families deeper into poverty and food insecurity.
Beyond oil pollution, CAPPA raised alarm over intensifying ocean surges and coastal erosion, which have:
- Submerged large portions of land
- Left the community exposed to tidal incursions
- Accelerated the loss of homes and productive spaces
“The economic base of Abereke is being rapidly eroded. Families are struggling to fish, their animals are dying, and even access to clean water now comes at a cost. This is a clear case of environmental injustice,” Ogunlade added.
The crisis has also triggered a breakdown of essential services and infrastructure, including:
- Destruction of the community’s only primary school due to tidal waves
- Disruption of education for children
- Lack of functional healthcare facilities, forcing reliance on informal remedies
Residents now face a multi-dimensional crisis—environmental, economic, educational, and health-related.
CAPPA expressed concern over what it described as prolonged institutional silence, noting that:
- Community members have submitted multiple petitions and complaints
- There has been little or no response from authorities or operators
- Oil-producing communities continue to bear disproportionate environmental costs
“Communities like Abereke continue to pay the price for extractive activities they do not benefit from. The silence and inaction of both government and corporations are unacceptable,” the statement said.
To address the crisis, CAPPA is calling for urgent interventions, including:
- Comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
- Immediate clean-up and remediation of polluted sites
- Construction of coastal protection infrastructure to curb erosion
- Compensation for affected residents
- Livelihood restoration programmes
- Rebuilding of critical infrastructure, especially schools
- A Wider Regional Problem
CAPPA emphasized that the situation in Abereke reflects a broader, systemic issue across Ilaje and coastal Ondo communities, where oil spills remain frequent.
Community members have repeatedly raised concerns about the activities of major operators, including:
- Agip
- Shell
- Chevron
- Guarantee Petroleum Company
These operations, according to residents, have contributed to long-term ecological degradation and socio-economic hardship.
“Like many other suffering communities in Ondo State, the people of Abereke are demanding justice, not charity,” Ogunlade stressed. “Government must act now to protect lives, restore dignity, and hold polluters accountable.”
CAPPA reaffirmed its commitment to amplifying the voices of Abereke residents and advocating for environmental justice, corporate accountability, and sustainable remediation efforts across Nigeria’s oil-producing regions.
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