Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has announced that oil production will soon resume in Ogoniland after a hiatus of over 30 years. The announcement was made at a national summit organized by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to mark two years of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Ogoniland, located in the Niger Delta, has a history of oil production dating back to the late 1950s. However, operations were halted in the early 1990s due to widespread public unrest and protests against oil companies, notably Shell, over environmental degradation and lack of compensation for local communities. Despite the stoppage, the region has continued to suffer from severe environmental pollution, including oil spills, leakages, and infrastructure damage.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released a report in 2011 highlighting the extent of pollution in Ogoniland, noting contaminated water, soil, and air, with benzene levels exceeding safe limits. The report recommended a 30-year restoration timeline and called for immediate action. In 2016, the Nigerian government launched the Ogoni cleanup initiative under the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), though progress has reportedly been slow.
Ribadu highlighted recent security improvements, including a 47% drop in infractions and the dismantling of thousands of illegal refineries and cooking ovens as part of Operation DELTA SAFE, aimed at ensuring regional security. The Ogoni dialogue committee concluded its consultations earlier this year and is expected to submit its findings to the federal government soon.