CSOs kick against resumption oil exploration in Ogoni 

A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), yesterday, called on the Federal Government and oil companies to halt the planned resumption of oil exploration in Ogoni, Rivers State.

This is contained in a statement endorsed by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), We the People, Policy Alert, Peoples Advancement Centre, Peace Point Development Foundation and seven other CSOs.

The coalition, while expressing deep concern that 33 years after the people of Ogoni made their demands, which were contained in the Ogoni Bill of Rights, none of their concerns and prayers has been addressed.

They said: “It is disappointing and insensitive for the government to imagine that those concerns have simply withered away with time.

“Those of us who remain connected to the communities know that Ogoni people are resolute in their resistance to any renewed hydrocarbon extraction in their domains.
“As CSOs in Nigeria, we have keenly observed the scheming and unhindered contestations over the resumption of extraction of oil in the disputed oilfields of Ogoni.”

The coalition also said that it is disconcerting that in the ongoing frenzy, the concerns raised by the Ogoni people 33 years ago, which led to the termination of oil extraction, have not been addressed.