Ogoni Coalition Sets Non-Negotiable Terms, Demands Justice and Transparency From Nigerian Government Before Oil Exploration Resumes

A coalition of Ogoni and diaspora organisations has called for transparency, justice, and community consent to guide any discussion on resuming oil exploration in Ogoniland.

The groups, however, commended President Bola Tinubu for renewing attention to the region’s long-standing issues of oil theft and environmental degradation.

In a joint statement on Monday, the coalition—comprising the National Union of Ogoni Students International (NUOS INT’L USA), the Center for Democracy, Human Rights and Anti-Corruption (CDHRAC INT’L USA), The Unseen Project, NYCOP Worldwide, NYCOP Nigeria, and several Ogoni-based community and environmental groups—praised the President’s leadership and the Ogoni Dialogue Committee’s efforts to revive discussions on oil production.

The coalition expressed appreciation for the initiative, saying, “We wish to appreciate President Tinubu and the Ogoni Dialogue Committee for their hard work and efforts to jump-start discussions on the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland.”

Yet, the groups stressed that full transparency must be a prerequisite for further consultations. They demanded the immediate publication of the committee’s position paper to ensure the process is corruption-free, inclusive, and representative of the interests of all Ogoni people.

“This is to ensure that the process is corruption-free, transparent, inclusive, and serves the collective interest of all Ogoni people and the Nigerian public, rather than being hijacked by a handful of individuals or families,” the coalition stated.

While welcoming the President’s initial engagement, the groups criticised what they described as poor judgment in the federal government’s recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the endorsement of Shell/NNPC’s controversial sale of OML 11, warning that such actions could erode public trust and harm the people of Rivers State.

The coalition outlined five central, non-negotiable demands that must be met before any discussion of oil resumption can proceed:

1. Creation of Bori State to address political and economic marginalisation and ensure sustainable development for the Ogoni people.
2. Relinquishment of OML 11 to the Ogoni people, stating that Ogoni oil is not for sale and demanding Shell and NNPC transfer the mining lease to the community.
3. Complete and unconditional exoneration of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists as a precondition for economic reconciliation.
4. Environmental safety and cleanup integrity, calling for an independent reassessment of Ogoniland’s cleanup, citing concerns the area remains unsafe for production.
5. Return of misappropriated compensation funds, alleging $300 million paid by NNPC for oil spill compensation was misappropriated, and demanding a government investigation to ensure funds are restored to the Ogoni people.

The coalition reiterated its commitment to dialogue but warned that any future talks must prioritize transparency and justice, rejecting corporate greed at the expense of the community.

“We are open to dialogue, but it must be dialogue rooted in fairness, for the Ogoni people and for the common Nigerian,” the groups stressed.