The visit comes a week after the announcement of a UK Parliamentary investigation into the World Bank’s effectiveness.

The World Bank’s Inspection Panel said it will investigate ’conflicting assertions’ by the communities and World Bank officials about the ’cause of pollution of the lagoon and alleged damage to fisheries, serious concerns regarding the valuation of assets and procedures for compensation, and a lack of information regarding the implementation of the project.’

In the complaint they submitted in April 2006, the communities state: ’We believe that the West-African Gas Pipeline project, if executed as presently conceived, would do irreparable damage to the land and consequently, destroy the livelihoods of the 12 communities.’

They raised concerns about the inadequacy of compensation paid to landowners, insufficient pipeline safety measures, lack of information about environmental impacts and the project’s failure to make a meaningful contribution to gas flaring reduction.

"We are happy that our complaints will now be officially investigated.

This project was supposed to help end gas flaring, which is a major cause of climate change and local health problems. However, to date we have seen no proof that flaring will stop," said Michael Karipko of ERA / Friends of the Earth Nigeria.

The Inspection Panel visit comes amidst growing instability in the Niger Delta, largely a result of local resentment against companies and government elites growing rich off oil and gas in the region, while communities suffer from health problems, persistent poverty, and widespread unemployment.

"The investigation should be a wake up call for the World Bank about the disconnectbetween its projects and its commitments to combating climate change and increasing energy access for the poor," said Nikki Reisch of Bank Information Center. "Rather than helping companies expand their gas production in the Niger Delta, the World Bank should prioritize ending the wasteful and dangerous practice of gas flaring and supplying energy to local communities."

The World Bank is facing increased scrutiny. Last week, the UK Parliament announced it will investigate whether the UK’s ’priorities in specific policy areas, particularly climate change, can be pursued effectively through World Bank funding’.

"All these investigations into the World Bank’s work are a good thing," said Janneke Bruil of Friends of the Earth International. "The question on the table is whether the World Bank is the right institution to deal with development and climate change".