Oil resumption: Ogoni youths open channels for negotiations

From Tony John, Port Harcourt

The National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) said it  has commenced genuine multi-stakeholder negotiations on oil resumption in Ogoniland.

The NYCOP made the disclosure during a rally organised in support of the “Ogoni Economic Rebirth Project,” held in Bori, the traditional headquarters of Ogoni people in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, yesterday.

The youths said the ‘Ogoni Economic Rebirth Project’ gives unique opportunities for the Ogoni indigenous exploration and production company that would collaborate with financial and technical partners of great repute in the industry to secure the lease to operate the assets within the Ogoni oil fields.

A statement signed by NYCOP’s President and Secretary-General, Barinuazor Emmanuel and Fred Mene Elijah respectively, and 10 others, said it was time for the Ogoni to join the comity of nations to enjoy its natural deposit.  

The president said stakeholders should join hands to achieve the vision, noting that the modern world was already shifting from dependence on oil and gas to renewable energy.

He said: “We cannot be sitting on a pot of gold, while we continue to die in hunger.”

Emmanuel explained that the Ogoni economic rebirth project is a matter of the moment, stating that Ogoni had risen to avail itself the wealth-creating opportunities offered by the Nigerian Oil and Gas Content Development Act, 2010 (Local Content Act, 2010), and further upheld by the Petroleum Industry Act 2021(PIA 2021).

He said: “Effective participation is our watchword under the unique auspices of ‘Ogoni Economic Rebirth Project,’ Ogoni people are very peaceful and law-abiding people. And our entire vision will be pursued from the engagement stage to the actualisation stage, within the ambit of the law.

“We call on all well-meaning Ogoni sons and daughters to open their minds and shun every deceitful ploy by commercial activists and visionless high-grade racketeers, who would often parade under the toga of leaders.”

Oil extraction in Ogoniland was stopped in 1993, due to increasing local and international protests, which prompted Shell to suspend production in the area.