Environment
Aggah Community Appeals Milan Court Ruling in Flooding Case Against Eni and Oando
Community groups and residents from Aggah in Rivers State have appealed a judgment by a court in Milan, Italy, after it dismissed a lawsuit against oil companies Eni S.p.A. and Oando Energy Resources Nigeria Limited over persistent flooding that residents say has devastated their livelihoods for decades.
The appeal was filed by the Egbema Voice of Freedom (EVF), Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA), and community activist Pastor Nicholas Evaristus Ukaonu following an April 9, 2026 ruling by the Ordinary Court of Milan.
The original lawsuit accused the companies of failing to address chronic flooding in the community despite commitments made under a 2019 Terms of Settlement brokered through Italy’s OECD National Contact Point.
Residents argue that recurring floods continue to destroy farmland, pollute water sources, damage homes and threaten lives in the oil-producing community.
Why the Case Matters
Aggah, located in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, is home to members of the Egbema ethnic nationality.
Most residents depend on farming and fishing, making environmental conditions critical to their survival and local economy.
According to the claimants, flooding in the area has been linked to oil infrastructure dating back to the 1970s, when embankments and raised access roads were built around oil wells in the Mgbede oil field.
Community groups argue that the structures obstruct natural waterways and contribute to annual flooding during the rainy season.
The case has drawn attention because it tests whether multinational companies can be held accountable in European courts for environmental impacts linked to overseas operations.
What the Milan Court Decided
Although the Milan court confirmed that Italian courts could hear cases involving overseas activities of Italian parent companies, it ultimately dismissed the claims seeking additional remediation and compensation.
The court ruled that Eni and its former Nigerian subsidiary had fulfilled obligations outlined in the 2019 settlement by constructing drainage channels and conducting technical studies.
According to the judgment, the agreement required specific works to be carried out but did not guarantee the complete elimination of flooding.
The court also found that EVF lacked the legal standing to claim damages on behalf of affected residents.
In addition, the claimants were ordered to pay more than €180,000 in legal costs.
Community Groups Challenge the Ruling
The organisations behind the lawsuit argue that the judgment focused on whether infrastructure was built rather than whether it solved the flooding problem.
They say evidence submitted during the proceedings showed that access roads connected to several oil wells continued to obstruct the natural flow of water.
Community member Evangelist Ubas criticised the ruling, saying:
“By focusing on whether infrastructure was built rather than whether it actually solved the flooding, the Court adopted an approach disconnected from the realities faced by the people of Aggah.”
He added:
“A settlement cannot be considered fulfilled when families remain underwater, livelihoods are destroyed, and environmental harm continues unabated.”
The claimants argue that the court failed to adequately consider findings from environmental reports, company documents and previous legal proceedings that allegedly linked flooding to oil infrastructure.
Appeal Seeks Broader Corporate Accountability
The appeal challenges the court’s interpretation of corporate responsibility and environmental remediation.
Lawyers representing the community want the appellate court to consider whether environmental measures should be judged by their effectiveness rather than by whether agreed technical works were completed.
The appeal also questions the court’s decision on legal standing and compensation in cases involving widespread environmental harm affecting entire communities.
Environmental rights advocates say the outcome could have implications for future cases involving multinational companies operating in developing countries.
Pastor Ukaonu: “We Are Not Deterred”
Pastor Nicholas Evaristus Ukaonu, one of the appellants, described the judgment as a setback but said the community remained committed to pursuing justice.
“How can the judge ask the oppressed to pay €180,000 to the oppressor, who has taken our oil for more than 50 years and left us flooded for the same number of years and counting?”
He continued:
“This is a difficult moment for us as a community, but we are not deterred. We have gone to appeal, regardless of the punitive cost.”
Industry and Legal Perspectives
Environmental litigation involving multinational corporations has become increasingly significant as affected communities seek remedies beyond their national borders.
Legal experts say the appeal could provide further clarity on how courts assess corporate obligations in environmental settlements and whether community organisations can seek remedies on behalf of large groups of affected residents.
The case also highlights growing international scrutiny of environmental practices in oil-producing regions of the Niger Delta, where communities have long raised concerns about pollution, flooding and ecological damage.
What Happens Next?
The appeal will now proceed through Italy’s judicial system.
Meanwhile, residents of Aggah say they remain vulnerable as another rainy season approaches.
Community leaders continue to call for what they describe as a permanent engineering solution to prevent flooding and restore farmland, water quality and economic stability.
Neither Eni nor Oando had publicly responded to the appeal at the time this article was prepared.
The Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) joined protesters in Bodo, Rivers State, on Monday to demand accountability from oil giant Shell over what campaigners describe as decades of environmental destruction and health risks linked to oil operations in Ogoniland.
The protest coincided with Shell’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in London, where shareholders gathered to discuss the company’s future strategy and financial performance.
Demonstrators in Bodo said the timing was deliberate — aimed at drawing global attention to the environmental and economic impact of oil spills that have affected the community for years.
Campaigners accused Shell of profiting from crude oil extraction in Bodo while local residents continue to face polluted waterways, damaged farmlands, loss of livelihoods, and worsening health conditions.
Why the Protest Matters
Bodo, an Ogoni community in Rivers State, has long been at the centre of environmental concerns tied to oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
Two major oil spills from Shell-operated pipelines in 2008 severely damaged mangrove forests and aquatic ecosystems in the Bodo Creek area, according to environmental groups and court filings.
The issue later became part of wider concerns documented in the landmark United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on Ogoniland, published in 2011.
The UNEP report found widespread contamination linked to oil operations and warned that benzene — a cancer-causing chemical — was present in groundwater in some Ogoni communities at levels significantly above World Health Organization standards.
The report recommended emergency clean water provision and a long-term environmental restoration programme.
More than a decade later, activists say many recommendations remain poorly implemented.
EDEN Accuses Shell of Failing to Deliver Cleanup
Speaking during the protest, Sebastian Kpalap, head of EDEN’s Port Harcourt office, said the organisation believes Shell has not adequately addressed the environmental damage in Bodo.
“It is the informed position of EDEN [that] Shell has failed to clean up the spills in Bodo,” he said.
“It is also evident that there is a high death rate in Bodo which could be linked to the destruction wrought on the environment by the operations of Shell.”
Kpalap said the organisation was standing in solidarity with residents to demand “a thorough cleanup of the environment and the urgent commissioning of a comprehensive health audit of the people.”
EDEN Executive Director Chima Williams also criticised delays in providing safe drinking water to affected communities.
“The fact that an emergency measure like provision of portable water has taken more than a decade to deliver speaks volumes of the failure of Shell to take responsibility for the harm it has done to the people,” Williams said.
Community Concerns Over Livelihoods and Health
Residents say decades of oil pollution have affected fishing, farming, and local businesses — the traditional economic backbone of the community.
Environmental advocates argue that prolonged exposure to pollution has also contributed to rising health concerns, though comprehensive public health studies in the area remain limited.
The renewed protest reflects growing frustration among communities in the Niger Delta over the pace of environmental remediation and compensation efforts.
Industry and Public Reactions
Environmental experts say the Bodo case remains one of the most internationally recognised examples of oil pollution in the Niger Delta.
Analysts note that multinational energy companies operating in the region face increasing scrutiny from investors, regulators, and environmental groups over sustainability and corporate responsibility commitments.
What Happens Next?
Campaigners are calling for:
A full environmental cleanup of Bodo Creek
Independent health audits in affected communities
Faster delivery of clean drinking water
Greater transparency from oil companies and regulators
Long-term restoration of damaged ecosystems
The protest adds fresh pressure on Shell as debates continue over environmental accountability and the future of oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta.
Shell had not publicly responded to the latest protest at the time of publication.
The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has announced plans to host the 11th edition of its Noiseless Lagos Summit, aimed at tackling increasing noise pollution across the state.
The summit will take place on May 12, 2026, at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, starting at 9:00 a.m.
Organisers say the event will bring together stakeholders from government, technology, environmental management and urban planning sectors.
Why it matters
Lagos, one of Africa’s fastest-growing megacities, faces persistent noise challenges driven by traffic, construction, nightlife and industrial activity.
LASEPA said the summit, themed “Advancing Sound Control and Technology in an Emerging Smart City,” will focus on practical solutions to reduce noise levels and improve public health.
Excessive noise exposure has been linked to hearing loss, stress and sleep disruption, making it a growing concern for residents.
Focus on technology and policy
According to LASEPA, discussions will centre on how modern technology and stronger policy frameworks can help manage noise pollution more effectively.
“Advancing Sound Control and Technology in an Emerging Smart City.”
The agency said the summit forms part of its broader campaign to strengthen enforcement of environmental regulations and encourage compliance.
Free hearing tests for participants
As part of the event, organisers will offer free hearing tests to attendees, highlighting the health risks associated with prolonged exposure to high noise levels.
How to attend
Residents, businesses and stakeholders interested in attending the summit are encouraged to register in advance via the official link:
https://forms.gle/Y7RkWqsXu4Gi1xv46
What’s next
The summit is expected to attract policymakers, environmental experts, tech innovators and members of the public.
LASEPA says insights from the discussions will help shape future policies and enforcement strategies aimed at reducing noise pollution across Lagos.
A professor at Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology has called on governments at all levels in Nigeria to urgently enforce environmental protection laws and increase funding for research, warning that pollution is endangering public health and economic growth.
Pollution ‘permeating every aspect of life’
Delivering the university’s 10th inaugural lecture in Okitipupa, Ilemobayo Ifedayo Oguntimehin said pollutants have “permeated virtually every aspect of the environment.”
He warned that contamination now affects air, water and soil, alongside emerging threats such as nanoparticles, PFAS “forever chemicals” and electronic waste.
“Understanding the nature, sources and impacts of pollutants is crucial for developing effective strategies to protect human health and preserve our planet for future generations,” he said.
Why it matters
Environmental experts say pollution remains a major but under-enforced challenge in Nigeria, contributing to health problems, reduced agricultural productivity and economic losses.
Oguntimehin argued that stronger enforcement of environmental laws could reduce these risks while supporting sustainable development.
He also stressed the need for better monitoring systems and nationwide awareness campaigns to change public behaviour.
Key recommendations
The professor outlined several measures aimed at tackling pollution and improving environmental outcomes:
Transition to a circular economy to reduce waste
Create designated zones for auto-mechanic activities
Mandate planting of pollution-tolerant trees
Strengthen watershed protection
Pilot mannitol spraying on tomato farms to boost yields by up to 60%
Expand collaboration between industry and universities
He also urged citizens to stop indiscriminate waste disposal and adopt waste-sorting practices.
“We have the tools and the economic incentive. What we need now is collective will and urgent action,” he added.
Industry and institutional reactions
In his response, OAUSTECH Vice-Chancellor Temi Ologunorisa described the lecture as “remarkable” and urged policymakers to consider its recommendations.
He also called for increased investment in tertiary education to strengthen research and innovation capacity.
The vice-chancellor acknowledged support from the Ondo State Government under Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as well as the late former governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
Wider perspective
Environmental analysts say Nigeria faces growing pressure to address pollution as urbanisation and industrial activity increase.
Stronger enforcement, they argue, could also improve investor confidence and align Nigeria with global sustainability targets.
What’s next
Stakeholders expect policymakers to review the lecture’s recommendations, particularly around enforcement, research funding and public awareness.
For now, experts say progress will depend on whether authorities translate policy discussions into action.
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