Ogoni youths have warned the Federal Government not to restart oil production in the region without first addressing long-standing demands for justice, equity, and community participation.
The National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) issued the warning during its National Congress on August 16, 2025, at the MOSOP Peace and Freedom Centre in Bori, which also marked the 35th anniversary of the Ogoni Bill of Rights (OBR).
Demands for Inclusion and Equity
In a communiqué signed by NYCOP President Barinuazor Emmanuel and Secretary-General Fred Mene Elijah, the group said Ogoni people still face environmental damage and economic hardship 35 years after the OBR was launched, despite their contributions to Nigeria’s oil wealth.
The youth leaders insisted that oil production in Ogoni’s OML 11 asset can only resume after broad consultation with communities and equity participation by indigenes. They demanded the active involvement of Ogoni youths and women in all negotiations on oil resumption and environmental justice, warning that exclusion would repeat past marginalisation.
NYCOP acknowledged some government interventions, such as the establishment of the Federal University of Environment and Technology and the ongoing Ogoni cleanup, but stressed that more sustainable development projects must follow.
Calls for Decommissioning of Old Facilities
The Mideekor Environmental Development Initiative urged the Federal Government to decommission all ageing oil facilities in Ogoniland, citing repeated oil spills as proof of urgent safety concerns.
The group referenced the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report, which recommended decommissioning to prevent further disasters. Since January 2025, more than eight oil spills have occurred in the area, worsening living conditions.
Its demand followed a fresh spill and fire at well 14, Yola, in Kpean Community. A Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) by security agencies on August 13 confirmed that rust and corrosion of an abandoned wellhead, left idle since 1993, caused the incident.
According to group leader Celestine Akpobari, the spill escalated into multiple fires over the weekend, destroying farmlands and threatening lives and the fragile ecosystem.
Abe Reaffirms Commitment to Ogoni Development
The Governing Board Chairman of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Magnus Abe, restated his commitment to advancing merit-based human capital development in Ogoniland.
He gave the assurance while receiving a delegation from Ogoni Beyond Oil and Politics (OBOP), Abuja chapter, which visited him to commend his role in supporting human capital development in the region.