Submitted by crinadmin on
[10 April 2008] - The Niger Delta youth movement has dragged six oil companies and the federal government before a Federal High Court in Abuja. President of the Movement, Mr. Onengiye Elekima, in his statement of claim, is suing five major oil companies and the federal government for allegedly flaring gas and pumping noxious chemical substances into the atmosphere in the Niger Delta region over a fifty year period. The Niger Delta youths movement is demanding N5trillion, representing general and special damages. The Companies sued are Shell Petroleum Development Company, Total FinaElf Ltd, ExxonMobil Unltd, Chevron Texaco Ltd, Nigeria Agip Oil Company Ltd, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation and the federal government. According to the statement of claim, the 1st-5th defendants have been flaring gas and pumping poisonous chemical substances into the atmosphere in the Niger Delta region for about fifty years in course of their oil production and allied activities. Some of the chemical substances pumped into the atmosphere include nitrogen dioxides, sulphur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, volatile organic compounds like benezene, others are tohiene, xylene, and carcinogenics like benzapyrene and dioxin. Elekina said they may cause asthma, chronic bronchitis, leukemia and cancer. Furthermore, it said that in the activities have led to acid rain and soot resulting in massive damage to the roofs of their buildings and plants. The plaintiffs are seeking a declaration that the continued flaring of gas and other activities is unlawful and constitutes a violation of the plaintiffs right to life, dignity, acquire and own immovable property within the region. They also want a declaration that the activities of the defendants are dangerous and injurious to the plaintiffs health, eco-system and violates the rights of the plaintiffs.