President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to immediately commence engagement with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Ogoni leaders, and other stakeholders to finalise arrangements for the resumption of oil production in Ogoniland.
The President issued the directive on Wednesday after receiving the report of the Presidential Committee on Ogoni Consultations, chaired by Professor Don Baridam, at the State House, Abuja. Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, led the Ogoni delegation to the ceremony.
Posthumous Honours for Ogoni Martyrs
At the event, President Tinubu conferred posthumous national honours of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on four prominent Ogoni leaders — Chief Edward Kobani, Chief Albert Bade, Chief Samuel Orage, and Chief Theophilus Orage — who died in the course of the Ogoni struggle.
The recognition follows the honours conferred in June on Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other members of the Ogoni Nine, who were executed under the Sani Abacha military regime.
“Hope is Back with Us” — Tinubu
Commending the Baridam committee for its dedication and inclusive approach, the President appealed to the Ogoni people to embrace dialogue and unity as government works to address longstanding grievances.
> “We are not, as a government, taking lightly the years of pain endured in Ogoniland. We recognise that, otherwise, we would not be here today. The Federal Government truly acknowledges the long suffering of the Ogoni people, and today, we declare with conviction that hope is here and is back with us,” Tinubu said.
He emphasised that reconciliation must not erase history but should mark the beginning of a new chapter anchored on fairness, environmental protection, and shared prosperity.
Mandates for Implementation
President Tinubu directed the NSA and the Minister of Environment to integrate the recommendations into a broader dialogue and implementation framework. He stressed the need to prioritise removal of “non-valuable assets” that bring no benefit to the community or the nation.
He assured that the Federal Government would deploy resources to support Ogoniland, promising equitable benefits through taxation, employment, and institutional development.
Fubara, Ribadu, Baridam Speak
Governor Siminalayi Fubara, in his remarks, praised Tinubu’s confidence-building steps, noting that progress on the East-West Road and the establishment of the Federal University of Environment and Technology had already restored faith in the federal government’s commitment.
NSA Ribadu, who coordinated the consultations, said Tinubu had approved early trust-building measures that helped ease tensions and create room for dialogue. These included the reconstitution of the university’s governing council and renewed work on key infrastructure.
> “While not forgetting past injustices, all parties have reached a point of collective readiness to see the responsible resumption of oil production in Ogoniland anchored on fairness, equity, environmental responsibility, and direct community benefit,” Ribadu stated.
He also highlighted calls for the repositioning of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) to align environmental clean-up with renewed oil operations, while ensuring structured community participation in equity, employment, and development funds.
Committee Chairman, Professor Baridam, thanked the President for his commitment to justice and development in Ogoniland, noting that Tinubu’s insistence on dialogue had restored hope among the Ogoni. He also lauded the posthumous honours bestowed on the Ogoni Nine as a symbolic recognition of their sacrifices for environmental justice and human rights.
Copyright © EaglesWatchOnline 2023 All rights reserved.
This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without written permission from EaglesWatchOnline.
