• Super Admin
• 06 Mar, 2026

Nigerian researcher at the University of Groningen, Netherlands, Dr Jackson Tamunosaki Jack has tasked the federal government of Nigeria to learn from its Dutch counterparts and avoid resuming oil extraction in Ogoni without first addressing what he describes as the "socio-ecological atrocities caused by Shell". Dr. Jack stated that the environmental damages inflicted on the Niger-delta people of Nigeria due to seven decades of oil extraction "is deeply worrying". He called on the international community to speak and advocate for the people of the Niger-delta suffering devastation arising from the oil exploration companies who paid little attention to the suffering of the people and the consequences of their activities on local livelihoods and survival. Dr. Jack is a Senior Lecturer of the department of Sociology and Anthropology, Federal University Otuoke and currently a Postdoctoral Researcher on the European Research Council (ERC) Funded AFREXTRACT project (Environmental Histories of Resource Extraction in Africa) at the University of Groningen, Netherlands According to him, there is a need to address the devastation caused by oil extraction companies in the Niger-delta. Speaking on the documentary screened at the University of Gronigen, organised by the Knowledge Platform for a Livable and Prosperous Groningen and the AFREXTRACT project, Dr Jack showed the similarities in the Niger-delta experience and the earthquake-stricken gas extraction area in Groningen Through the films, "Bodem in Beweging" by filmmaker Saskia Jeulink about the misery in Groningen, and "Niger Delta: Oiled and Abandoned" by Niger-delta based Tech4Rural, the scholar showed how people suffer from gas and oil extraction and struggle for recognition. While stressing for the need for Niger-deltans to lobby and hold politicians accountable, Dr. Jack lamented how oil extraction has ruined the natural habitat of the people of Niger-delta The researcher said: "For me, this is personal. My grandfather, Peter Sangaju-Oru, lived proudly off fishing and was among the most prosperous men of his time in the Ido community. Today, that is no longer possible because oil spills and gas flaring have left the rivers littered with dead fish," Jack says. "This goes beyond environmental damage and livelihood loss. It is also about the loss of cultural identity. The situation is deeply worrying. "We need to lobby. We need to hold politicians accountable. Right now, the Nigerian government wants to resume oil extraction in the Ogoni area without addressing the socio-ecological atrocities caused by Shell. "In the Netherlands, due to earthquakes arising from gas extraction in Groningen, the government set up a parliamentary inquiry on gas extraction between 2021-2023. The report titled "Groningers before Gas" indicted both the Dutch government and oil companies (Shell, ExxonMobil) for earthquakes. Today, the large gas fields have been shut down, and structurally impacted houses are being reinforced and reconstructed. "The Nigerian government should learn from this and place the well-being of the Niger-delta people above oil extraction. Nigerian government can't keep making the same mistakes in the Niger-delta. The government should rather restore the Niger-delta environment and make it safe for the people. They should listen to the cries of the people". Jack is convinced that people are stronger together. "The consequences of resource extraction are a global problem. If we work together internationally, we can collectively draw attention to these issues and hold oil companies and governments accountable. An international lobbying effort gives you more leverage against a powerful company like Shell. " According to Jack, this must come from the ground up - from citizens and aid organizations themselves. "If you ask me, people in Groningen can help those in Nigeria by speaking out. Tell others about the suffering in the Niger Delta. Documentary evenings like this help "raise awareness," Jack noted. Source: https://independent.ng/groningen-scholar-jack-advises-fg-to-learn-from-netherlands-to-solve-oil-extraction-crisis-in-niger-delta/