Our Blog
Dirty fuel imports continue to pose a serious health risk in Nigeria
In February 2022, a large consignment of imported petrol had to be withdrawn from the market, after it was found to have excessive levels of methanol, which was causing...
Community Monitoring and Advocacy Groups help secure N4.3bn worth of development projects in the Niger Delta
SDN has worked with six communities across Rivers and Bayelsa states in the Niger Delta to develop highly effective Community Monitoring and Advocacy Groups (CMAGS) that act as advocates...
SIWP and portal secure high-level backing!
SDN has worked with, and across, ministries in the Federal Government to finally secure high-level backing of the Strategic Implementation Work Plan (SIWP), which we hope will improve the...
What’s in the latest Petroleum Industry Bill draft? Environmental and Host Community concerns.
On the 1st July, both the House of Representatives and Senate passed third readings of the Petroleum Industry Bill. Our analysis is based on the report of the House...
Engaging communities in Rivers and Edo states to improve metering & reduce theft
Many people in Nigeria still have very limited access to electricity or rely on diesel generators which are noisy, expensive, and produce localised air pollution because they cannot access...
SDN brings together private and public sector leaders on the Niger Delta’s post-COVID19 economic recovery
SDN brought together private and public sector leaders in December 2020 to review our forthcoming report on economic recovery of the Niger Delta from the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in...
Dutch Embassy witnesses firsthand the impact of investing in communities for better governance and accountability
SDN has worked extensively across Rivers State, setting up community groups called ‘Community Monitoring and Advocacy Groups (CMAGs)’, and supporting them with ongoing advice and materials. These groups have...
Community Advocacy Working Groups: action restores Oghoghobi community’s power supply
A reliable electricity supply from the grid to individuals and households supports schooling, small businesses, and care facilities, creates safer communities, and can reduce local air pollution. Unfortunately, access...
SPDC-funded development projects need to mainstream climate resilience
Many communities in the Niger Delta of Nigeria shoulder the double burden of fossil-fuel extraction (associated oil spill risks and air pollution) and the impact of climate change (worsened...
Defending civic space: 9 #EndSARS protestors finally released in Rivers State
Under our Defend civic space project, a coalition of civil society worked to secure the detained protestors access to family and lawyers after months of being denied both. The...
Bridging the gulf to improve electricity provision and access in the Niger Delta
Poor access to power and our recommendation to improve it: A 2018 survey by SDN of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) customers found 40% of those interviewed were not...
United Kingdom Supreme Court ruling on Shell a step in the right direction
Today’s ruling that Shell can be brought to court in the UK for the actions of its subsidiary sets an important precedent in holding international oil companies to account...
Media briefing: cases of police brutality in Rivers State
We, the members of the Coalition of Concerned Civil Society Organisations in Rivers State in collaboration with our partners, and Rivers Civil Society Organisations (RIVCSO) are profoundly worried about...
The time has come for all oil, gas and mining contracts to be published.
SDN actively works to promote financial transparency in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria, which is concentrated in the Niger Delta. SDN is also currently engaged in a...
Supporting investigative journalism in the Niger Delta
As part of SDN’s Defend civic space project, we’re supporting investigative journalism in 2020 and 2021 through trainings and commissions to investigate abuses of power during #EndSARS protests and...
Training new members of Community Monitoring and Advocacy Groups.
What are CMAGs? Despite the natural resource wealth of the region, the Niger Delta remains under-developed, suffering insecurity and very high rates of unemployment. Over time this has contributed...