Community Development Advocacy Foundation - CODAF in collaboration with Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth, Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) organized a one-day legal and strategy meeting for fisher folks in the Niger Delta. The meeting which held on Thursday, 6th of April, 2023 at the headquarters of ERA/FoEN, had in attendance forty (40) participants drawn from the Federation of Women Lawyers in Edo State, the community representatives, students and other partner organizations. 

Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of CODAF, Benin Richard stated that the program was organized to foster collaborations with capable organizations and agencies to ensure that the communities are protected. He urged FIDA to involve environmental action in their scope as women in the communities are mostly affected by the activities of the oil multinationals. 

Representatives from Odimodi, Gele-gele and Forcados gave testimonies on the plight of their people, the level of damages and how it has affected the communities. They stated that the pollution in their communities have destroyed their lands and water, causing ailments that have reduced the life span of the people. 

The Executive Director of ERA/FoEN, Barr. Chima Williams assured the communities that they are in full support and will join in the fight to hold the oil and gas companies for their activities against the people. While stating some strategies that should be adhered to in case of litigation, he however urged the community representatives to gather  concrete information and evidence, and to collaborate within themselves to mitigate against the divide and rule tactics of the oil multinationals.

On her part, the President of the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) in Edo State, Barr. Violet Olumese stated that the rights to safe environment, education, healthcare and healthy living are right backed by the constitution, of which the people in the affected communities are being deprived of. She added that any issue affecting community women is an interest point for FIDA, assuring the communities and CODAF of their support. 

The community representatives were instructed to gather relevant documents, information and evidence to commence action plans.