Nigeria, March 30 -- The Environmental Rights Action (ERA) has called for the emplacement of a proper regulatory and legal framework to guide International Oil Companies (IOCs) seeking to divest their holdings in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

This was the summation of an interactive webinar held on Thursday between the NGO and some media outlets.

Chima Williams, the executive director of ERA who led the discussion during a virtual meeting on "Legislative Pathway on IOC Divestment in Niger Delta", said Nigerian lawmakers needed to enact legislation "that will set up milestones and pathways for divestment".

He said even though it was the legal right of such companies to divest their holdings in the region, it was essential that they f...