King Bubaraye Dakolo of Ekpetiama Kingdom in Bayelsa State has called for environmental consciousness, urging Nigerians to confront the ongoing ecological crisis in the Niger Delta and the country before it becomes irreversible.
Dakolo, who is the Ibenanowei of the kingdom, made the call at a one-day book reading event on environment and culture, organised by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) in Benin City on Monday, May 26, 2025.
King Dakolo described the Niger Delta as a tragic victim of “ecoside” – a systematic destruction of its environment through unchecked pollution, gas flaring, and decades of negligence by oil multinationals and government regulators.
“For 70 years, the flares have never gone out. Our rivers are poisoned, our people are dying, and no one is being held accountable,” Dakolo said.
He added that “the Kingfisher bird no longer lives in the creeks. It now nests in my palace; that’s how far pollution has chased nature.”
He criticised Nigeria’s regulatory bodies, including the former Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), for their lack of independence and failure to enforce environmental standards.
“How can they regulate when they rely on Shell and Chevron for boats, helicopters, and accommodation?” he asked.
He recalled a childhood when fishes were plentiful, rivers were clean, and communities thrived on nature’s abundance.
“Now, the rivers are sewers. You fish all night and barely catch anything. Our livelihood is gone, and our health is failing,” he said.
Dakolo, who is also an author, shared excerpts from his books – “Riddles of the Oil Thief,” “Pirates of the Gulf,” and “The African Voice”.
The books collectively exposed the exploitation, environmental degradation, and political betrayal that define the Niger Delta’s story.
Through these works, he urged citizens to awaken, organise, and reclaim their land and future.
Supporting the king’s message, Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director of HOMEF, underscored the urgent need for environmental consciousness.
Bassey noted that the lack of elders in many communities pointed to a deeper problem.
“When a society has many young people and few elders, something is wrong with the environment,” Bassey said.
He highlighted the direct link between environmental degradation and shrinking life expectancy in Nigeria.
“There’s something wrong when a nation has so many young people and so few elders. It means people are not living long enough, and that’s a sign the environment is killing us,” he said.
Bassey warned that without a safe environment, democracy, development, and even basic human dignity remain unattainable.
The environmentalist stressed the role of literature and storytelling in reclaiming agency, noting that books like those written by King Bubaraye Dakolo were critical tools for resistance and awakening.
Bassey urged citizens to break their silence and confront the environmental crisis head-on.
“We must speak the truth, even if we’re the only ones speaking.
“If we fail to act, we are complicit,” he said, setting a resolute tone for the event that celebrated activism through storytelling.
By Usman Aliyu
