Amnesty International has joined a march across Bori, in Ogoniland, Rivers State, to demand environmental justice, accountability and an end to the exploitation of communities through oil extraction.
The organisation disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, drawing attention to the environmental pollution and human rights challenges facing residents of the Niger Delta.
It said the Niger Delta, one of the world's 10 most important wetland and coastal marine ecosystems, is home to approximately 31 million people, many of whom continue to suffer the consequences of oil pollution.
"Sadly, the people living in the oil-producing areas of the Niger Delta have to drink, cook and wash with polluted water," the organisation said.
Amnesty International accused the Nigerian government of failing to take adequate measures to protect citizens from environmental harm, arguing that such failure amounts to a breach of international law.
It also stressed that oil companies must be held responsible for their activities, including failure to comply with international human rights and environmental standards and good practices in oil industry operations.
The organisation called for accountability and an end to practices that expose oil-producing communities to environmental degradation and undermine their fundamental rights.
Amnesty joins march in Ogoniland, demands environmental justice