MOSOP writes Tinubu on ‘oil war’ in Ogoni, criticises NNPCL-Sahara Energy deal

The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) has written to President Bola Tinubu about the looming ‘oil war’ in Ogoni Kingdom, Rivers State, following secret moves by some oil firms to resume production in the area.

In the letter titled “OML 11: Unholy Secret Deals in NNPC Threatens Oil Resumption in Ogoni,” its President, Fegalo Nsuke, said, “Since 1993, we have had disagreements with the former operator, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited; oil fields have remained redundant, stranded, and undeveloped.”

Nsuke also noted that after thirty years of brutal crisis that cruelly affected the national economy, the unfortunate situation has left a proven oil production capacity of 500,000 barrels per day stranded under the soil where the Ogoni people walk daily.

“Despite this wealth, we are without electricity, water, and healthcare, while the environment is polluted and unfit for human habitation. We call on the President to prevail on the ‘unholy deal’ between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and Sahara Energy.”

MOSOP expressed concern about activities aimed at frustrating current peace efforts, using backdoor attempts to force on the people despite their outright rejection of the company due to its display of untrustworthy character, similar to that of SPDC.

They noted, “Under the last administration, Sahara Energy surreptitiously signed a Financial and Technical Services Agreement with WAGL Energy Limited, an affiliate of the NNPC. In 2023, without due process ab initio, the oil firm further attempted to buy the OML 11 asset at a paltry sum of $250 million.

“Their attitude towards coercively taking over the Ogoni oil fields not only threatens the peace of the people but signals a potential for fresh regional crises, given that repression will attract the sympathy of the rest of the Niger Delta region. The threats must be avoided and eliminated by keeping the oil company off limits to the area.”

MOSOP demands the removal of the Ogoni fields from the existing FTSA between Sahara and WAGL for OML 11 concession, which did not follow due process in assigning the Ogoni block to an operator that is acceptable to all parties and willing to make concessions for development.