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Key RecommendationsFrom History to Action
The IWG was born out of Bayelsa’s story, but our mission extends far beyond documenting the past. Each milestone in our journey points toward a future where oil companies are held accountable and communities reclaim their land, health, and dignity.
Our history shows the depth of the crisis, but it also lights the path forward. By turning evidence into advocacy, and advocacy into action, the IWG is helping shape a just transition for the Niger Delta and beyond.
From Bayelsa to a Global Call for Justice
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2019
The Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission (BSOEC) is created, by the Governor of Bayelsa State, Henry Seriake Dickson. to investigate the scale of oil pollution and propose solutions.
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2024 (October)
The BSOEC releases its landmark report An Environmental Genocide at the International Conference on Petroleum Pollution and Just Transition in Abuja. Upon its release, the report received strong endorsements from Nigerian institutions and international stakeholders .
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2024 (Late)
The International Working Group (IWG) is formed, bringing together commissioners, Nigerian civil society, and international partners.
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2025 (March)
Shell Petroleum Development Company completes its sale to Renaissance, exemplifying the trend of IOCs abandoning polluted sites and liabilities while shifting investments to deep-water projects deemed less risky.
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2025
The IWG has its official launch event at Ford Foundation offices during New York climate week. Work continues to push for implementation of the Bayelsa report’s recommendations, linking local struggles to global climate justice debates.