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Tinubu Ignites Ogoni Hopes: Oil Operations Set to Resume After 30 Years

Published 6 days ago3 minute read
Pelumi Ilesanmi
Pelumi Ilesanmi
Tinubu Ignites Ogoni Hopes: Oil Operations Set to Resume After 30 Years

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has initiated significant steps toward reconciliation and economic revival in Ogoniland, beginning with the posthumous conferment of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on four late Ogoni leaders. Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Theophilus Orage, and Samuel Orage, collectively known as the “Ogoni Four,” were honored at the Presidential Villa during the reception of the Ogoni Consultative Committee's report. These national honors acknowledge the tragic deaths of the four men in 1994, an event that became the basis for the trial and subsequent execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other activists in 1995 by the military regime, following protests against environmental degradation caused by oil exploration.

Addressing the nation, President Tinubu emphasized the critical need for unity and reconciliation in Ogoniland, urging the people to transcend past grievances. “I urge the Ogoni people to close ranks, put this dark chapter behind us, and move forward as one,” he stated, calling for a united community with a single voice across classes, communities, and generations. This plea for unity comes after decades of unrest, during which oil exploration in Ogoniland has remained suspended since 1993.

A major announcement by the President was the plan to resume oil production in Ogoniland, a move he described as being backed by an "overwhelming consensus" among the communities. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building upon the previous government's decision to transfer the operatorship of the Ogoni oil fields to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its joint venture partners. To finalize the modalities for restarting operations, President Tinubu directed the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to initiate immediate engagements with Ogoni communities, NNPCL, its partners, and all relevant stakeholders. Furthermore, the President instructed the Minister of Environment to integrate pollution remediation efforts into the ongoing dialogue with the Ogoni people, underscoring a holistic approach to the region's challenges.

President Tinubu pledged his administration’s unwavering support for peace, environmental restoration, and economic revival in the region. He assured that the government would deploy every resource to assist the Ogoni people in their journey towards shared prosperity, especially as oil production is set to resume under equitable terms. Prof. Don Baridam, Chairman of the Ogoni Consultative Committee, presented the committee’s report, highlighting that its recommendations embody the collective will of the people and should serve as a practical blueprint for implementation. He further urged the creation of an inter-agency task force to execute these recommendations effectively.

Following the presidential directives, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu reiterated President Tinubu’s dedication to fostering peace and inclusive development not only in Ogoniland but across the entire Niger Delta. Ribadu confirmed that consultations had engaged all four Ogoni zones and the diaspora, focusing on structured participation, accelerated cleanup, and sustainable development. “Peace is being restored already, and Nigerians will soon see the benefits not just in Ogoniland, but across the Niger Delta and beyond,” Ribadu remarked. Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara also commended the President’s confidence-building measures, noting progress on infrastructure like the East-West Road and the establishment of the Federal University of Environment and Technology in the state.

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