Religious Leaders Demand Halt To New Oil Projects

.urge fair transition to renewables

ABUJA – In a powerful appeal to the Nigerian government, faith leaders across religious divides have called for an immediate end to all new fossil fuel exploration and extraction projects in Nigeria, urging a fair and equitable transition to renewable energy sources.

The appeal was among the key resolutions from a two-day dialogue titled “Nigeria Multi-Faith Leaders National Consultative Dialogue on Medium and Long-term Climate Goals,” held at the Barcelona Hotels in Abuja.

The dialogue, organized by GreenFaith Nigeria in partnership with Ecosteward and Humanitarian Foundation (ETF), The Kukah Centre (TKC), and Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, brought together leaders from various religious communities to confront the urgent environmental challenges facing the nation.

GreenFaith, an interfaith coalition for the environment established in 1992, brings together places of worship, religious schools, and individuals from various faiths to promote environmental stewardship.
Dedicated to inspiring, educating, and mobilizing people of diverse religious backgrounds, GreenFaith aims to foster environmental leadership across faith communities.

In a the workshop, leaders from Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Traditionalist backgrounds engaged in meaningful discussions on how religion can play a vital role in addressing climate change.

Through in-depth conversations, they explored different perspectives, ultimately producing a communique that outlines collective demands directed at the government, international oil companies, insurance companies, and other key stakeholders. Their shared vision emphasizes the urgent need for collaborative action to protect the planet for future generations.

At the conclusion of their dialogue on Tuesday, leaders from various faiths took turns reading a communique as a powerful symbol of unity and commitment to achieving Nigeria’s climate goals. This diverse assembly underscored their shared determination to drive the country toward environmental sustainability and justice.

Those who presented the communique included Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa, Co-Executive Director of the Interfaith Mediation Centre; His Grace Salika Dasa of the Hare Krishna movement; Rev. Sis. Lilian Chibiko from GreenFaith Africa Women of Faith in Energy; Sheikh Khalid Muhammed Nuru of the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society; Pastor James Wuye, also of the Interfaith Mediation Centre; and Chief St. Emma Pii from the Bodo Council of Chiefs in Rivers State.

In a call to action, they urged an immediate cessation of all new fossil fuel exploration and extraction projects in Nigeria. Drawing from Proverbs 21:3, “To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice”, they argued that continuing fossil fuel development contradicts the principles of climate justice, particularly given its harmful impacts on local communities and the urgent global need to limit warming to 1.5°C.

The communique stated decades of oil exploration in Nigeria as largely exploitative. It condemned the role of European, North American, and Chinese extractive firms, as well as financial institutions and national governments, in perpetuating environmental damage.

They argued that weak regulatory, legal, and financial systems in Nigeria have fueled corruption, exacerbating the exploitation and environmental harm.

They noted that “over 85% of fossil fuels produced by Africa-based projects are exported, thereby failing to increase the continent’s energy access rates. However, fossil fuel exploration often exacerbates climate change and social inequalities, leading to land grabs, biodiversity loss, environmental pollution, displacement, loss of livelihoods, conflicts, health complications, human rights violations, and abuse. Hence, we demand locally-owned, accessible, affordable, clean renewable energy initiatives.”

As a form of mitigation, the leaders called for global collaboration to support vulnerable communities in coping with the unintended consequences of the energy transition. They highlighted that industrialised nations built their economies on fossil fuels extracted from Nigeria and other developing countries.

The leaders expressed concern that “over 85% of fossil fuels produced by African projects are exported, limiting the continent’s progress in expanding energy access. Fossil fuel extraction not only fails to serve local needs but also intensifies climate change and worsens social inequalities. This process frequently leads to land grabs, biodiversity loss, environmental pollution, community displacement, loss of livelihoods, conflicts, health issues, and widespread human rights violations.”

In response, they demanded a shift toward locally-owned, accessible, affordable, and clean renewable energy initiatives.

As a strategy for mitigation, the leaders called for international collaboration to support vulnerable communities in managing the unforeseen challenges of the global energy transition. They emphasized that industrialized nations, which built their economies on fossil fuels extracted from Nigeria and other developing countries, share a responsibility to aid in this transition.

At the workshop focused on Nigeria’s transition to renewable energy, participants pledged to collaborate with media organizations and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to further their shared goals.

“We call on the Global North, whose industrialization has largely driven the climate crisis, to fulfill their climate finance commitments,” they stated.

“This support is essential for Nigeria and other developing countries to invest in green energy and build resilience against climate change. The Global North’s governments, corporations, and financial institutions have long profited from Nigeria’s fossil fuel resources; it is now their responsibility to help us create a sustainable, renewable energy future.”

The group also stated the critical role that the media and NOA can play in advancing a just energy transition within Nigeria.

“We strongly urge the media and NOA to join us in championing this agenda for a just transition,” they said.

Concluding the event, GreenFaith Africa’s Program Manager, Pius Oko, expressed how the gathering aligns with his organization’s mission of organizing grassroots communities to address pressing social and environmental issues.

“This workshop united diverse faith communities in amplifying a call against fossil fuel extraction, deforestation, and harmful financing practices, while supporting a just transition to renewable energy solutions,” Oko said. “Our goal is to build a sustainable future for Nigeria and Africa, one that upholds human dignity, respects our communities, cares for the environment, and prioritizes justice.”

Reflecting on the event’s success, he added, “Today’s dialogue represents a powerful moment to unify our voices, reinforce our commitment, and pave the way for a fair and sustainable shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy.”