The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ogoni stakeholders

  • Ogoni stakeholders to President: review oil resumption in 17 communities

    Ogoni stakeholders to President: review oil resumption in 17 communities

    Some Ogoni stakeholders have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to halt oil exploration in 17 Ogoni communities in Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    They cited unresolved environmental damage, displacement and past violence.

    The aggrieved indigenes stated this at the weekend during a peaceful protest in Bori, Khana Local Government Area, at the weekend.

    Carrying placards with various inscriptions, such as “No to Oil Resumption”; “Free Ogoni Land from Economic Slavery”; and “NNPCL bring back our $300 million,” they condemned the resumption of oil activities without consultation or remediation.

    The Executive Director of the Ogoni Liberation Initiative (OLI), Douglas Fabeke, said oil operations were resuming in communities that were destroyed between 1993 and 1998, when over 300 people were reportedly killed.

    He urged the Federal Government to immediately halt oil activities in the affected areas, noting that the environment had not been restored and many residents remained displaced, including refugees in neighbouring countries.

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    Fabeke accused some oil firms, including Sahara Energy, of resuming operations without addressing past injustices, stressing that the move could trigger fresh unrest.

    He called on President Tinubu to order a suspension of activities and initiate meaningful negotiations aimed at restoring affected communities. He also urged the Federal Government to take direct control of OML-II and engage host communities through credible dialogue.

    Fabeke further rejected Sahara Energy, declaring the company persona non grata in Ogoniland, while expressing willingness to engage with NNPCL and relevant government agencies.

    He also raised concerns over the unaccounted $300 million reportedly earmarked for Ogoni communities, saying neither OLI nor the beneficiaries had been briefed on its disbursement.

    Fabeke warned that if the grievances were not addressed, Ogoni stakeholders would escalate their protests to Abuja.

  • Ogoni stakeholders seek probe of collapsed water project in Rivers

    Ogoni stakeholders seek probe of collapsed water project in Rivers

    Stakeholders under the auspices of the Greater Ogonis in Diaspora Organisation (GODO) have called for a transparent and independent investigation into the circumstances that led to the collapse of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) water facility barely four days after its inauguration.

    The President of the group, Chief Ambrose Kii, in a statement issued to mark the 30th anniversary of Ken Saro-Wiwa’s martyrdom, insisted that the contractor that handled the project must be at the centre of the investigation.

    Kii warned against the practice of awarding contracts to politicians, family members, and cronies, saying they were fond of diverting public funds and executing substandard projects.

    He appealed to communities to take ownership of government projects executed in their domains, adding that such projects were funded by their sweat and taxpayers’ money.

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    He urged residents to speak out and report any form of shoddy work, corner-cutting, or violations of safety and professional standards.

    He said, “Communities must embrace citizens’ journalism to hold contractors accountable. Stop demanding ‘marching ground’, stipends, or so-called support from contractors. Each time you do so, you sell your right to question wrongdoing”.

    Kii also called on the United Nations to officially declare November 10 as Ken Saro-Wiwa Day, in honour of the late environmental rights activist and human rights crusader.

    He further appealed to the Federal Government and the Rivers State Government to declare November 10 a public holiday.

    He said, “Ken Saro-Wiwa fought a greater battle against military dictatorship — a struggle that drew international attention and laid the moral foundation for the democracy we are enjoying in Nigeria today. He deserves to be remembered, exonerated, immortalized, and celebrated as a true hero of our nation.”