MOSOP praises Ribadu’s peace plan for Ogoni, wants it used across Nigeria

The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has praised the way National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu is handling talks on the long-standing Ogoni oil issue.

MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke believes this approach can be used in other areas of Nigeria facing similar conflicts to promote peace and unity.

Mr Nsuke shared his thoughts on Wednesday while talking to journalists at the Port Harcourt International Airport in Rivers State.

He said Mr Ribadu has shown great leadership and character in managing the Ogoni dialogue. He urged the Ogoni people to support the ongoing peace efforts.

“It is quite amazing to see that Mr Ribadu has been able to coordinate a reconciliation process in Ogoni successfully, and we are seeing the emergence of a new era and a brighter future for the Ogoni people,” Mr Nsuke said.

He added, “The NSA’s Ogoni model should be replicated in all crisis regions of Nigeria to achieve national reconciliation and integration.”

Mr Nsuke mentioned that MOSOP plans to honor Mr Ribadu after the reconciliation process. He said Mr Ribadu will be considered for an Ogoni National Merit Award and a traditional chieftaincy title.

He credited this recognition to the NSA’s role in addressing an oil conflict that has lasted over thirty years.

Mr Nsuke also encouraged the Ogoni people to make the most of the ongoing talks and appreciate President Bola Tinubu and Mr Ribadu for their efforts.

“I think we, the Ogoni people, should be appreciative of Mr President and the NSA who have exceptionally shown concern and acted rightly to address the Ogoni problem,” he said.

The MOSOP president said the focus for Ogoni should go beyond arguments about who leads the talks.

He called for more attention to jobs, healthcare, education, security, and social welfare, especially for youth and elderly people.

“That should be our concern and not who leads or who does not lead the dialogue process.”

The federal government’s renewed talks with Ogoni leaders come after more than thirty years of conflict over oil exploration, environmental damage, and demands for more benefits from the region’s resources.

Oil production in Ogoniland stopped in 1993 after protests against oil activities. The execution of activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni leaders in 1995 brought more global focus on the situation.

A 2011 assessment by the United Nations Environment Programme found significant hydrocarbon pollution in Ogoniland and suggested an extensive cleanup plan. The government started the Ogoni clean-up program in 2016.

The current talks have also led to disputes among Ogoni groups about restarting oil production.

In August, PREMIUM TIMES reported that 51 civil society groups opposed plans to resume oil production in Ogoniland. They believe environmental restoration should come before reopening oil wells. They also raised concerns about the environmental risks of renewed oil extraction.

The debate grew after worries were raised about oil activities during the ongoing discussions. KAGOTE, another key Ogoni socio-cultural group, asked Mr Ribadu to look into the process and provide more details on oil activities, job opportunities, and contracts related to the talks.

KAGOTE clarified that they are not against restarting oil production but want a process that is clear, inclusive, and trustworthy.

There are also worries about the environmental dangers linked to oil infrastructure in the area. In December 2025, Mr Ribadu connected a new oil spill in the Kpean community, Khana Local Government Area, to sabotage and stated that such incidents threaten ongoing cleanup efforts.

The NSA had earlier led a federal team to Rivers State to strengthen the peace process in Ogoniland. Officials from the ministries of works and environment, along with senior members of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, were part of this team.

Despite this, MOSOP continues to back Mr Ribadu's dialogue. In July, Mr Nsuke urged the Ogoni people to welcome the process, calling it a chance for a lasting solution to the old conflict.

As talks continue, MOSOP’s latest stance shows its ongoing support for the federal government’s reconciliation effort, while other Ogoni groups and civil society organizations keep pushing for transparency, environmental protection, and wider participation in decisions affecting the future of oil production in the area.