Outrage As Government Plans To Resume Oil Exploration In Ogoni Land

Oil Change International and civil society organisations in the Niger Delta, have condemned in strong terms the Nigerian government’s decision to resume oil exploration in Ogoni land. They argue that this move ignores the environmental destruction, economic struggles, and social injustices the Ogoni people have endured for decades.

“This decision disregards the longstanding suffering of the Ogoni people due to past oil operations,” Oil Change International stated. “Rather than addressing these historical grievances, the government is choosing a path that will worsen the situation for communities already devastated by years of pollution.”

The controversy comes nearly 30 years after the execution of the Ogoni 9, including Ken Saro-Wiwa, who fought against environmental atrocities linked to oil companies like Shell. Activists warn that resuming oil activities could repeat past mistakes and further harm the Ogoni people.

Activists Speak Out Against Oil Resumption

Environmental activists have expressed outrage over the government’s plan, calling it a betrayal of the Ogoni struggle. Nnimmo Bassey, Director at Health of Mother Earth Foundation, condemned the decision.

“The polluters ask us to forget past grievances, but continued pollution isn’t a past grievance. Attempting to reopen the oil wells in Ogoniland is a denial of the gross ecological disaster that oil exploitation and colonial extractivism has wreaked in the territory and the larger Niger Delta,” Bassey said.

“With Ororo-1 oil well burning for five years and another well burning for over a week at Buguma, opening oil wells in Ogoniland is simply an attempt to reopen old wounds. It will compound ecocide and sentence the Ogoni people to misery. This is an additional insult, coming on the 30th anniversary of the murder of Ken Saro-Wiwa and other Ogoni leaders.”

Ogoni Community Leaders React

Community leaders have also voiced their opposition to the proposed oil exploration, warning that it could lead to renewed conflict. Celestine Akpobari from Ogoni Solidarity Forum criticized the government’s priorities.

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“It is sad that the government of President Tinubu is reopening old wounds and provoking another round of killings. At a time when the Ogonis were expecting the government to fast-track the remediation of their polluted environment and restore lost livelihoods, the government is instead talking about new oil wells,” Akpobari stated.

“Why will a government start a cleanup program and open new oil wells at the same time? We demand an immediate withdrawal of this plan. President Tinubu must focus on cleaning up the Niger Delta and exonerating Ken Saro-Wiwa and others who were unjustly executed by a Kangaroo Military Tribunal.”

Environmental Organizations Demand Accountability

Elizabeth Bast, Executive Director of Oil Change International, warned that resuming oil production in Ogoni land would have severe consequences.

“Resuming oil production in Ogoni land today could repeat the same environmental destruction and human rights violations that led to the execution of the Ogoni 9. The Nigerian government’s plans threaten communities that are still dealing with contaminated water, polluted farmland, and chronic health issues,” Bast said.

“We cannot allow new oil development to inflict more damage. The government must prioritise environmental restoration and justice for affected communities.”

Civil Society Groups Issue Demands

Civil society groups in the Niger Delta have called for urgent action to protect Ogoni land and its people. After a meeting at the Port Harcourt office of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, they issued a joint statement condemning the planned oil resumption.

The groups stated, “The decision to resume oil exploration in Ogoniland ignores the deep environmental, social, and economic injustices faced by the Ogoni people. It undermines efforts for sustainable development, environmental justice, and community empowerment.”

They also highlighted past reports, including the 2011 UNEP Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland, which documented severe pollution from oil spills, gas flaring, and poor remediation efforts. The groups stressed that the Nigerian government has been slow in implementing UNEP’s cleanup recommendations and has failed to hold oil companies accountable.

Calls for Justice and Reform

Activists and community leaders are demanding that the government take immediate action to address environmental damage and provide justice for the Ogoni people. Their key demands include:

1. Halt all oil exploration in Ogoniland until full remediation is completed and the Ogoni people are meaningfully consulted.
2. Stop drilling new oil wells in the Niger Delta and prioritise environmental restoration.
3. Allocate $1 trillion for immediate cleanup and compensation for communities affected by pollution.
4. Review the military trial and execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and other Ogoni activists, granting them full exoneration.
5. Release the confiscated Ken Saro-Wiwa Memorial Bus sculpture, held by Nigerian customs since 2015.
6. Fully implement the UNEP report recommendations and ensure transparency in the cleanup process.
7. Increase funding for HYPREP to accelerate the cleanup of Ogoniland.
8. Hold oil companies accountable for past environmental damage and human rights abuses.
9. Ensure community participation in decisions affecting Ogoniland, following international principles of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC).
10. Demilitarise the Niger Delta and end intimidation of environmental activists.
11. Enforce strict regulations on oil companies to prevent further pollution.
12. Transition to renewable energy and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on fossil fuels.

A Fight for Environmental Justice

The planned resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland is seen as a direct threat to the fundamental human rights of the Ogoni people. Civil society organisations argue that it disregards their right to a clean environment, health, and life.

“The resumption of oil activities in Ogoniland is not only a betrayal of the Ogoni struggle but also a threat to future generations. We stand in solidarity with the Ogoni people in their fight for justice and sustainable development,” the statement concluded.