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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Conflict & Security

Ogoni oil talks: MOSOP alleges secret drilling, demands halt

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni (MOSOP) alleges secret oil drilling has begun in Ogoni communities while dialogue with the government continues.
  • MOSOP condemns the alleged forced re-entry and demands an immediate halt to operations, citing betrayal of the dialogue process.
  • Concerns are also raised about alleged corruption among leaders involved in the oil resumption talks, with demands for transparency regarding youth employment lists.

The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni (MOSOP) has voiced strong opposition to alleged secret oil drilling operations in Ogoni communities, asserting that these activities have commenced despite ongoing dialogue with the Federal Government regarding the resumption of oil exploration. MOSOP stated that while the Ogoni people had initially embraced the idea of oil resumption due to the integrity of their leaders involved in the talks, recent reports of alleged compromise and corruption have become deeply worrisome.

It is appalling as it is disappointing that while dialogue between Abuja and Ogoni is ongoing, preliminary oil production is operationalised in parts of Ogoni by the Federal Government without the consent and social licence of the Ogoni community.

— Stephen NmaneThe MOSOP Secretary-General expressed dismay over the alleged commencement of oil drilling during ongoing talks.

Stephen Nmane, Secretary-General of MOSOP, condemned any forced re-entry into Ogoni, describing it as a betrayal of the spirit of the dialogue process. He specifically pointed to alleged oil drilling in Ban-Ogoi and Alesa-Eleme areas within Tai and Eleme local government areas, occurring without the community's knowledge or consent. MOSOP demands an immediate halt to these operations, emphasizing that such actions are in bad faith and undermine the integrity of the ongoing discussions.

In Ban-Ogoi and Alesa-Eleme areas, oil drilling with its attendant health and environmental toxicity is ongoing.

— Stephen NmaneNmane detailed specific locations where alleged oil drilling is taking place.

Furthermore, MOSOP expressed alarm over reports of massive economic corruption involving key leaders in the Ogoni oil resumption dialogue process. The organization is demanding transparency, specifically requesting the publication of the names of 40 Ogoni youths employed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, alleging that foreigners' names may have been included. MOSOP warned of severe consequences if accrued benefits are illicitly cornered by a few individuals, stating that the Ogoni people will not remain idle while their common good is undermined.

Therefore, we cannot but condemn this forced re-entry through the back door. Thus, we demand immediate halt of the operations and the needful done.

— Stephen NmaneMOSOP issued a strong condemnation and demand for the cessation of alleged operations.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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