From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
The Executive Director of Africa Network for Environmental and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, has advised President Bola Tinubu to conclude the clean-up of Ogoni land in Rivers State and restore the environment polluted by the oil companies before talking about resuming oil exploration in the Niger-Delta terrain.
This was according to a statement made available to the media in Kaduna today (Wednesday).
Rev. Ugolor, who reacted to the recent meeting of President Tinubu with select leaders of Rivers State in Abuja, said:
“The UNEP Report highlighted the severe environmental degradation in Ogoni land. While cleanup efforts are ongoing, they are far from satisfactory. The priority should be completing the clean-up and fully restoring the environment before discussing crude oil drilling.”
His words: “Rushing into exploration without addressing environmental concerns undermines the well-being of the people and may put a perpetual end to the ongoing clean-up process.”
According to him, dialogue is a step in the right direction. Engaging stakeholders is essential for rebuilding trust and addressing historical grievances.
However, the government must ensure that the engagement is inclusive and transparent. Without genuine community participation, such initiatives risk being viewed as token gestures.
Rev Ugolor stressed that the environmental degradation, human rights violations, and social injustices faced by the Ogoni people must be addressed comprehensively. Without concrete steps toward reparation and restoration of the environment, the call for healing may seem impulsive.
“It is an issue because exclusion breeds distrust. Groups like MOSOP have played critical roles in advocating for Ogoni’s rights. For any dialogue to be meaningful and credible, it must be inclusive, giving voice to all relevant stakeholders. Engaging a diverse spectrum of groups ensures that decisions reflect the collective will.
“The handling of oil exploration has long-term environmental, social, and economic implications. Poor management leads to environmental degradation, health crises, and community unrest.
“The government must adopt international best practices, enforce strict environmental regulations, and ensure that host communities benefit from the resources extracted from their land.
The way forward is built on trust, justice, and inclusivity. The government must commit to a transparent, accountable, and community-driven engagement process.
‘Addressing environmental restoration, investing in social infrastructure, and ensuring economic empowerment for the people are essential. The Ogoni people, on their part, should be open to dialogue and engagement while remaining firm and demanding their rights.
“The root cause of the problem lies in poor governance, lack of transparency, corruption, and mismanagement of resources. While funds have been allocated, the absence of accountable leadership and participatory governance has hindered meaningful development.
” Projects meant for the benefit of communities are often abandoned or poorly executed. Civil society and the masses must continue to demand transparency and accountability from their state governments and intervention agencies to ensure that the resources reach the people.”
