President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a renewed round of consultations aimed at reopening oil production in Ogoniland, nearly three decades after the suspension of activities in the area following years of conflict and environmental agitation.
Speaking at a state ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, the President directed the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to coordinate fresh talks between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Ogoni leaders, and other stakeholders. The discussions are expected to address long-standing grievances around environmental degradation, compensation, and equitable participation in oil-related benefits.
President Tinubu said the new engagement was designed to “secure reconciliation, promote justice, and ensure that the people of Ogoniland benefit directly from the resources of their land.” He described the Ogoni struggle as a symbol of Nigeria’s broader challenge of balancing resource exploitation with social and environmental responsibility.
As part of the occasion, the President also conferred posthumous national honours on four prominent Ogoni leaders—Ken Saro-Wiwa, Barinem Kiobel, Saturday Dobee, and John Kpuinen—who were executed in 1995 under the military regime of late General Sani Abacha. Their deaths, widely condemned across the world, remain a defining chapter in Nigeria’s history of environmental rights activism.
Tinubu praised their sacrifice as “a reminder of the enduring cost of justice denied,” while pledging that his administration would uphold the principles for which they stood. He said the federal government was committed to completing ongoing environmental remediation in Ogoniland, expanding development projects, and strengthening partnerships that bring both peace and prosperity to the Niger Delta.
Oil exploration in Ogoniland, a key part of the Niger Delta, has remained suspended since the mid-1990s following community protests against environmental destruction and poor living conditions despite decades of crude extraction. Efforts by successive governments to restore production have repeatedly stalled due to mistrust, security concerns, and unresolved legal disputes.
Analysts view Tinubu’s directive as a significant policy move that could unlock billions of dollars in oil reserves, but they caution that success will depend on transparent negotiations, community trust, and a strong framework to manage revenue distribution.
The renewed talks and symbolic honouring of the “Ogoni Four” may signal a fresh chapter in the relationship between the federal government and the Ogoni people, with hopes that dialogue will finally yield lasting peace and sustainable development in the oil-rich but troubled region.
