Stakeholders in the Niger Delta have expressed concern over mounting economic losses from the prolonged shutdown of oil operations in Ogoniland, estimating that Nigeria has lost over $226 billion in revenue since 1993.

The shutdown of Oil Mining Lease (OML) 11, which has remained inactive for over three decades, was said to have significantly impacted national output, with the facility possessing the capacity to produce over 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

The stakeholders, who spoke in Port Harcourt yesterday during a meeting convened by the Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), stressed the need to resume operations but cautioned that such a move must be anchored in community participation, environmental sustainability, and transparency.

They emphasised that host communities must be treated as critical stakeholders and fully integrated into all phases of the resumption process to foster trust and ensure long-term stability. They also called for sustained environmental cleanup and restoration efforts to address decades of ecological degradation in the area.

The stakeholders further advocated a community-based security framework, noting that local participation has proven effective in safeguarding oil and gas infrastructure across the Niger Delta.

Speaking at the meeting, a traditional ruler in Emohua, Seargent Awuse, urged the Federal Government to demonstrate commitment by taking concrete steps towards the resumption of exploration activities in Ogoniland.

He, however, commended PINL for its sustained engagement with host communities, describing such efforts as vital to pipeline safety and regional stability.

Also speaking, the General Manager, Community and Stakeholder Relations at PINL, Dr Akpos Mezeh, called for greater economic inclusion of host communities, recommending that residents benefit directly through employment opportunities, contracts, and capacity development initiatives tied to the resumption of operations.

Mezeh reaffirmed the company’s readiness to support the process, leveraging its expertise in stakeholder engagement and infrastructure protection to ensure a peaceful and secure operating environment.

“At PINL, we stand ready to support this process by applying our experience in stakeholder engagement and infrastructure protection to ensure a peaceful, secure, and sustainable resumption,” he said.

He lamented the prolonged inactivity in the region, noting that available data indicated that over $226.7 billion had been lost due to the suspension of crude oil production from 96 oil wells in Ogoniland over the past 32 years.

According to him, the development underscores both the economic cost of inaction and the opportunities inherent in a carefully managed restart.