A coalition of civil society organizations has raised concerns over the Nigerian government’s reported plans to resume oil production in Ogoniland, describing it as a disregard for environmental justice and the rights of the Ogoni people.
In a statement signed by organizations including Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), and Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), the groups criticized the invitation extended by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to select Ogoni stakeholders for a closed-door meeting in Abuja.
The meeting is set to take place on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at Transcorp Hilton Hotel.
The statement highlighted the historical environmental degradation caused by oil activities in Ogoniland, documented in the 2011 UNEP report, which revealed widespread pollution of land, water, and air.
The groups expressed disappointment that the government has yet to fully implement the UNEP recommendations or prioritize the cleanup of the region.
The organizations demanded a halt to any plans to resume oil activities until the Ogoni people are meaningfully consulted and their environment fully remediated. They also called for justice for environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and other Ogoni leaders executed in 1995, urging the Nigerian government to exonerate them and return the confiscated Ken Saro-Wiwa Memorial Bus sculpture.
Their demands include:
Allocating $1 trillion for the cleanup of the Niger Delta and compensation for lost livelihoods.
Immediate and transparent implementation of the UNEP report.
Accountability for oil companies, particularly Shell, for environmental damages and human rights violations.
Recognition of Ken Saro-Wiwa as an environmental hero.
Transitioning to renewable energy to mitigate environmental harm.
The groups also emphasized the need to end military intimidation in the Niger Delta and ensure that all decisions involving Ogoniland respect the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC).
The statement described the government’s current approach as an affront to the fundamental human rights of the Ogoni people and a threat to sustainable development. They warned that resuming oil production without addressing past injustices would only deepen mistrust between the government, oil companies, and local communities.
The coalition called for solidarity with the Ogoni people in their fight for justice and environmental restoration.
