Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice

The African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) is a non-profit, non-political, and non-governmental organization based in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The Reverend David Ugolor founded ANEEJ while a student at the Edo State University (now Ambrose Alli University) in 1995; the organisation was constituted in 1998. For over 10 years ANEEJ has been working in Benin City, Edo State, and the Niger Delta region and has managed activities across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria. Working with local communities, civil society organisations, the private sector and state and national governments our focus is sustainable development, the alleviation of poverty and economic empowerment. ANEEJ has covered a number of issues during this time, including Debts and Structural Adjustments, monitoring International Financial Institutions (World Bank, International Monetary Fund, African Development Bank), Public Expenditure Management, Revenue Transparency, Budget Monitoring & Tracking and Environmental Issues including Water & Sanitation. This has led to activities such as the Public Eye on Oil Revenue, a public advocacy campaign, as well as initiating and developing the secretariat for the Publish What You Pay campaign, the publication Oil of Poverty in the Niger Deltaand the formation of the Niger Delta Budget Monitoring and Transparency Network(NDBMTN) and forming the secretariat for the Nigerian Water and Sanitation Network. ANEEJ advocates the importance of supporting the Nigerian national government and state governments in delivering equitable economic development for the Nigerian people. ANEEJ is currently working with state governments in the Delta region to support building the capacity of state Oil Commissions in the delivery of their work. ANEEJ is aware of the importance of highlighting climate change as an issue that will impact negatively in the Delta region, already identified as one of the largest vulnerable regions in sub Saharan Africa. ANEEJ is opening dialogue with stakeholders on this issue and will be encouraging the development of a Niger Delta Climate Change Strategic Plan. ANEEJ meets its policy objectives in collaboration with a number of organizations and institutions across the globe.