Stakeholders seek resumption of oil production in Ogoni

Stakeholders in Ogoni land, including traditional rulers, professionals, women and youths have called for resumption of oil productions in Ogoni land.

The stakeholders said as long as Ogoni people will be given equitable participation as host communities, the resumption of oil is apt at the moment and would fast track economic development in the country.

Speaking during a meeting at Birabi Memorial Grammar School, Bori Headquarters of Gokana Local Council of Rivers State, at the weekend, convener of the meeting, Wai-Ogosu, tasked the Federal Government and its regulatory agencies in the petroleum industry to take advantage of the opportunity and return for investment.

He assured that Ogonis are willing to embrace dialogue for the recommencement of oil production in their land.

Recall that oil production stopped in Ogoni land at the peak of the Ogoni struggle in the 1990s, when angry communities shut down oil wells in 1993, as a result of perceived economic exploitation and the repression Ogoni people suffered at the hands of operators and the military government.

Since then, the shutdown of OML11 in Ogoni land has led to daily loss of billions of naira, as it has been a waste to the government and communities as well.

Wai-Ogosu said: “We are here to re-sensitise our people to see the enormous wealth and potentials in their domain, and how we can use them to improve the quality of life in Ogoni land.”

Also, the President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Prince Biira, said that Ogoni people were willing to allow oil and gas production, with adequate recognition of their right to equity participation in OML 11.

The MOSOP President said: “The message here today is that Ogoni people are ready to partner the Federal Government and investors, as long as we are not mere onlookers so that we can develop our communities at our own pace.”

President of the National Youths Council of Ogoni People, Barinuazor Emmanuel, said: “We have resolved that Ogoni people should participate meaningfully in OML 11, as we have professionals that can drill oil here.”

He added that those who started the struggle did not say oil should not be drilled in Ogoni land. According to him, they only insisted that they should benefit from the immense wealth generated in their land, maintaining that that remains their stand.