President Bola Tinubu has instructed National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to begin talks with Ogoni communities, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and other relevant stakeholders to finalize the resumption of oil operations. The directive was issued during a meeting at the Presidential Villa, where the President received the report of the Ogoni Consultations Committee. Tinubu emphasized that ongoing dialogue and reconciliation are essential for lasting peace, justice, and development in Ogoniland, urging the Ogoni people to unite and move beyond past conflicts.
The administration has pledged support for peace, environmental cleanup, and economic revival in the region. It plans to build on the previous government’s decision to hand over the operation of Ogoni oil fields to the NNPCL and its joint‑venture partners. The Minister of Environment has been directed to incorporate pollution remediation into the continuing dialogues with the Ogoni people. In addition, the President posthumously honored four late Ogoni leaders with the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) award.
According to Ribadu, the consultations engaged all four Ogoni zones and the diaspora, focusing on structured participation, accelerated cleanup, and sustainable development. He reaffirmed the President’s commitment to peace, stability, and inclusive growth across the Niger Delta, assuring strict implementation of directives aimed at consolidating peace and addressing past injustices. Chairman of the Dialogue Committee Prof. Don Baridam described the report as reflecting the collective will of the Ogoni people and called for an inter‑agency task force to implement its recommendations.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State noted that the confidence‑building measures introduced by the President have improved various projects, including the East‑West Road. The suspension of oil exploration in Ogoniland in 1993, following protests over environmental damage, and the execution of Ken Saro‑Wiwa and eight other activists in 1995, left a lasting impact on the region. Recent developments aim to address these historical grievances and pave the way for a more sustainable and equitable future for the Ogoni people. With the President’s directive, the Nigerian government is moving toward restarting oil operations while prioritizing environmental cleanup and economic revival.
Comments are closed for this story.