Ogoniland communities demand environmental remediation before oil resumption
Plans by the federal government to resume oil exploration in Ogoniland have met resistance from local communities, who insist that environmental restoration and livelihood recovery must precede any new operations.
The concerns were raised at a stakeholders’ dialogue convened on Friday by the Lokiaka Community Development Centre in Port Harcourt.
Leaders representing Ogoni communities, civil society organisations, and local stakeholders called for full implementation of the Ogoni Bill of Rights, which includes demands for resource control, as well as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recommendations, before oil extraction resumes.
Erabanabari Kobah, an environmental management consultant from K-Dere community in Gokana Local Government Area, expressed concern that discussions on resuming oil operations are ongoing while the environment remains degraded.
“I’m one of those concerned about the proposed oil operation resumption in Ogoniland.
“The environment has not been remediated, restored, or handed over to the people.
”Yet, there are talks of another operation.
”Without a proper environmental impact assessment, can the Ogoni environment sustain another round of oil activities? And will the people benefit from it after over fifty years of ecological degradation?, ” Kobah said.
Barbara Sam-Nordun, a stakeholder from Koroko in Tai Local Government Area, emphasised the need for skills empowerment and human capital development prior to oil resumption.
“Before extraction resumes, we need to equip our people with skills so that our youths can participate fully in the sector,” she said.
Martha Agbani, Executive Director of Lokiaka Community Development Centre, explained that the dialogue was organised to give Ogoni people a platform to discuss the potential resumption of oil activities and its impacts.
“This is the second dialogue involving stakeholders across Ogoni, including youths, women, traditional leaders, and civil society actors.
”We wanted to assess whether the government’s consultations with the communities addressed the outcomes of our first dialogue,” Agbani said.
Agbani further stressed that the dialogue sought to ensure sustainable management of the Ogoni environment, maintenance of peace, and the creation of a long-term, inclusive oil economy.
Participants also took part in a technical session to propose actionable recommendations on how Ogoni communities could benefit from future oil activities while safeguarding the environment.
The stakeholders’ message is clear: any oil resumption must be preceded by comprehensive environmental remediation, restoration of livelihoods, and full implementation of community rights and international environmental standards.
