Ogonis Demand Full Environmental Remediation, Autonomy Before Oil Resumption

Ogonis Demand Full Environmental Remediation, Autonomy Before Oil Resumption

The debate over oil resumption in Ogoniland has once again brought to the fore the deep scars left by decades of exploitation and environmental degradation.

At a recent stakeholders’ dialogue convened in Port Harcourt, community leaders, civil society actors, and representatives of Ogoni communities made their stance clear: no oil extraction will resume until the land is fully remediated, livelihoods restored, and the rights of the people respected.

The Ogoni struggle is not new. Since the 1990s, when the Ogoni Bill of Rights was first articulated, the people have consistently demanded resource control, environmental justice, and autonomy in managing their affairs.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on Ogoniland highlighted the severe ecological damage caused by oil multinationals, recommending comprehensive remediation. Yet, years later, many communities still live amidst polluted water, devastated farmlands, and ruined ecosystems.

For stakeholders like Erabanabari Kobah of K-Dere, the idea of resuming oil operations without completing remediation is both unjust and unsustainable. He questioned whether the fragile environment could withstand another round of extraction, and whether the people could truly benefit from an economy built on a foundation of ecological ruin.

Beyond environmental concerns, the Ogoni people are also demanding empowerment and inclusion. Barbara Sam-Nordun from Tai Local Government Area emphasized the need for skills development and human capital investment before any oil activity resumes. This reflects a broader vision: oil wealth should not merely enrich corporations or government coffers, but must translate into opportunities for local communities.

Martha Agbani of the Lokiaka Community Development Centre underscored that the dialogues are not just about oil, but about charting a sustainable future where peace, environmental stewardship, and community participation are central.

The Ogoni position is both principled and pragmatic. They are not rejecting development outright; rather, they are insisting that development must be just, equitable, and environmentally responsible.

Their demands, full environmental remediation, implementation of the Ogoni Bill of Rights, and empowerment of their people, are rooted in decades of neglect and exploitation. To ignore these conditions would be to repeat history’s mistakes, perpetuating cycles of conflict and ecological destruction.

The federal government’s eagerness to resume oil exploration must therefore be tempered by genuine dialogue and concrete action. The Ogoni people have spoken with one voice: remediation before resumption, rights before revenue, empowerment before exploitation. Their demands are not obstacles to progress but essential prerequisites for a sustainable and peaceful oil economy in the Niger Delta.

In truth, the Ogoni struggle is emblematic of a larger Nigerian dilemma, how to balance resource extraction with environmental justice and community rights.

If the government heeds the Ogoni call, it could set a precedent for a new era of responsible resource management. If it ignores them, it risks reigniting old wounds and deepening mistrust. The choice is clear, and the stakes could not be higher.