Some Ogoni stakeholders have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to halt oil exploration in 17 Ogoni communities in Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State, citing unresolved environmental damage, displacement, and past violence.
The appeal came during a peaceful protest at the weekend in Bori, Khana Local Government Area, where indigenes carried placards with inscriptions such as “No to Oil Resumption,” “Free Ogoni Land from Economic Slavery,” and “NNPCL Bring Back Our $300 Million.” The protesters condemned the resumption of oil activities in their communities without prior consultation or proper environmental remediation.
Douglas Fabeke, Executive Director of the Ogoni Liberation Initiative (OLI), said the communities targeted for renewed oil operations had been devastated during the period between 1993 and 1998, when over 300 people were reportedly killed amid conflicts linked to oil exploitation. He described the resumption of activities as insensitive and warned that it could reignite tensions.
The stakeholders also highlighted that the environmental degradation caused by decades of oil exploration has left farmland and water sources polluted, making life difficult for residents. They demanded that the government first address compensation, environmental clean-up, and community consultation before allowing any further operations.
The protest underscored ongoing tensions in Ogoniland over oil activities, with community leaders insisting that economic development should not come at the expense of human rights and environmental sustainability. They called on the federal government to engage with Ogoni communities and adopt a transparent and inclusive approach to oil exploitation in the region.
