Ogoni leaders refuse to sign oil deal, demand community meetings

The Ogoni Dialogue Committee (ODC) will not sign any agreement with the federal government to restart oil exploration in Ogoniland. They want the people of the oil-rich region to have a say through community meetings before any oil companies can return.

This decision adds another challenge for the federal government trying to kickstart oil production in Ogoniland. Oil exploration stopped decades ago because of protests over environmental damage, economic neglect, and the killing of activist Ken Saro-Wiwa along with eight other Ogoni leaders in 1995.

According to a report by Punch, the committee said that any new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) must first gain the support and trust of the Ogoni people. This must be done through proper community meetings in the four local government areas of Ogoniland in Rivers State.

Their stance shows how crucial it is to get community support for any agreement that could shape the future of oil exploration in the area. The resolution came after a meeting of 35 ODC members in Port Harcourt, Rivers State's capital. They discussed the proposed MoU, ongoing talks, and efforts to resolve the long-standing issues in Ogoniland.

This position comes as the federal government makes new attempts to restart oil production in the region. Oil exploration was stopped in 1993 after protests about environmental harm and the neglect of the Ogoni people.

In September 2025, President Bola Tinubu told National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to work with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Ogoni people, and others to finalize plans for restarting oil production.

This directive followed a report from the Presidential Committee on the Ogoni Consultations. The committee is led by Don Baridam, a professor who focuses on management and organizational behavior.

President Tinubu urged the Ogoni people to embrace talks. He promised that his government would protect their environment and address their long-standing issues.

After the ODC meeting, Samuel Nnee, the paramount ruler of Tai Kingdom and convener of the Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, urged members to stay united for successful dialogue. He praised President Tinubu for his efforts to resolve the Ogoni crisis and help restart oil exploration. He also acknowledged the work of Mr Ribadu and Oluwatosin Ajayi, the Director-General of the Department of State Services.

"The engagement process has been painstaking and difficult, but we are hopeful that with patience, unity and cooperation, the desired results will be achieved," he said.

Philip Obele, the King of Eleme, stated that the committee is committed to protecting the interests of all Ogoni communities through real consultations. "We shall not sign any MoU unless and until we have held credible and authentic congresses as approved by the ODC, organized and hosted by our elected council chairmen," he said.

Pius Kii, the judicial vicar of the Catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt and a senior lecturer at Rivers State University, said the committee supports the federal government’s efforts to resume oil exploration for the benefit of Nigeria and the Ogoni people. He mentioned that the ODC agreed to finalize the MoU based on earlier discussions.

He added that the chairpersons of the four Ogoni local government areas were making significant progress in engaging their communities for the congresses. They are expected to finish consultations within the set timeline. After that, the finalized MoU will be presented to local government congresses for review.

Though the committee is ready to support talks, they are worried about the halt to confidence-building projects agreed upon with the federal government. Innocent Barikor, a committee member, urged the government to quickly resume these projects, especially the abandoned Eleme section of the East-West Road.

He stressed that these projects are essential for restoring trust in the dialogue and showing that the government is serious about solving the Ogoni crisis.

Mr Barikor noted that the Ogoni people need to see real proof of the government’s commitment before they can trust that the proposed oil resumption will bring real benefits to their communities.

The demand for clear development actions comes from long-standing worries that the environmental and economic effects of years of oil exploration have not been properly dealt with. Groups have pointed out ongoing pollution, including a 2025 oil spill in Kpean community, warning that restarting extraction without proper cleanup could put residents at further environmental and health risks.

The federal government set up the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project to carry out the recommendations.

Oil exploration in Ogoniland stopped in 1993 after protests led by the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People. The execution of Mr Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists by the military government in 1995 made the situation worse and drew global condemnation.

The ODC's latest position shows that, despite new talks and government promises, getting the Ogoni people's consent is key to any attempt to restart oil exploration in the area.