During the ceremony, President Tinubu directed the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to immediately initiate engagements with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Ogoni people, and other relevant stakeholders to finalize the modalities for the resumption of oil production in Ogoniland. This directive is part of a broader strategy to address the region’s challenges while promoting sustainable development and shared prosperity. The President’s actions underscore his administration’s commitment to resolving the longstanding grievances of the Ogoni people, who have endured years of environmental devastation caused by oil exploration activities.
The ceremony was attended by a delegation from Ogoniland, led by Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, alongside other key stakeholders. The event was not only a platform for the submission of the consultation report but also an opportunity for the President to honor the sacrifices of Ogoni heroes who lost their lives in the struggle for environmental justice. President Tinubu conferred posthumous national honours of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on four prominent Ogoni leaders: Chief Edward Kobani, Chief Albert Bade, Chief Samuel Orage, and Chief Theophilus Orage. These individuals were among those who paid the ultimate price in their advocacy for the protection of Ogoniland’s environment and the rights of its people.
This gesture follows the President’s earlier conferment of national honours in June 2025 on Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists, collectively known as the “Ogoni Nine,” who were brutally executed by the military regime of General Sani Abacha in 1995. The posthumous recognition of these figures is a symbolic acknowledgment of their sacrifices and a reaffirmation of the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing the historical injustices faced by the Ogoni people.
A Commitment to Dialogue and Reconciliation
In his remarks during the ceremony, President Tinubu emphasized the Federal Government’s resolve to address the pain and suffering endured by the Ogoni people over the years. He commended the Presidential Committee, led by Professor Don Baridam, for its dedication and wisdom in navigating the complex issues surrounding the Ogoni question. The committee’s work, which involved extensive consultations with various stakeholders, has paved the way for a renewed dialogue aimed at fostering reconciliation and sustainable development in the region.
“We are not, as a government, taking lightly the years of pain endured in Ogoniland,” President Tinubu stated. “We recognize that, otherwise, we would not be here today. The Federal Government truly acknowledges the long suffering of the Ogoni people, and today, we declare with conviction that hope is here and is back with us.”
The President called on the Ogoni people to close ranks and embrace dialogue as a means of resolving their grievances. He assured them that the government would prioritize the protection of their environment and work towards equitable solutions that benefit both the community and the nation. “This reconciliation is not an erasure of history but the commitment to write the next chapter together,” he said, highlighting the importance of unity in moving forward.
Directive for Resumption of Oil Production
A key highlight of the President’s address was his directive to the National Security Adviser to engage with the NNPCL and other stakeholders to finalize the modalities for resuming oil production in Ogoniland. This decision comes after years of halted oil exploration in the region, largely due to protests led by the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) and other groups advocating for environmental justice and better resource management.
The President emphasized that the resumption of oil production would be guided by principles of fairness, equity, and environmental responsibility. He directed that initial efforts should focus on addressing “non-valuable assets” that provide no benefit to the community, the country, or its people. This approach signals a shift towards a more inclusive and sustainable model of resource extraction that prioritizes the well-being of the Ogoni people.
“I am encouraged by the overwhelming consensus of the Ogoni communities to welcome the resumption of oil production under an equitable tax system,” President Tinubu noted. He assured stakeholders that the Federal Government would deploy the necessary resources to address the concerns of the Ogoni people and ensure that the benefits of oil production are shared equitably.
Integration of Environmental and Developmental Programs
To further address the environmental concerns of Ogoniland, President Tinubu directed the Minister of Environment and the NSA to integrate relevant programs into a broader dialogue and implementation process. This directive aligns with ongoing efforts to remediate the environmental damage caused by decades of oil spills and pollution in the region. The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), established to clean up oil-contaminated sites in Ogoniland, was specifically mentioned as a program that needs to be repositioned to synchronize with the renewed dialogue and operational plans.
The President’s emphasis on environmental protection reflects the recommendations of the 2011 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report, which detailed the extensive environmental degradation in Ogoniland and called for comprehensive cleanup efforts. By integrating environmental remediation with economic development initiatives, the Federal Government aims to address both the ecological and socio-economic challenges facing the region.
Confidence-Building Measures and Infrastructure Development
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who led the Ogoni delegation to the State House, commended President Tinubu for implementing confidence-building measures that have already yielded positive results. He highlighted improvements in the ongoing rehabilitation of the East-West Road, a critical infrastructure project that connects Ogoniland to other parts of the Niger Delta and beyond. The governor also praised the establishment of the Federal University of Environment and Technology as a significant step towards addressing the educational and developmental needs of the region.
These confidence-building measures, according to Governor Fubara, have helped to restore trust between the Ogoni people and the Federal Government. They have also created a conducive environment for dialogue and collaboration, paving the way for the successful submission of the consultation report.
The Role of the National Security Adviser
The National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, played a pivotal role in facilitating the consultation process. He noted that President Tinubu had approved several confidence-building steps at the outset of the process to foster trust among stakeholders. These steps included the constitution of the governing council for the Federal University of Environment and Technology and significant progress on the East-West Road project.
Ribadu emphasized that the consultation process was marked by a spirit of dialogue and collaboration, with tensions and divisions carefully mediated to ensure a constructive outcome. “All through the process, tensions and divisions were carefully mediated, and a spirit of dialogue prevailed over confrontation, leading to a constructive and all-inclusive consultation process,” he said. The result was a collective report that reflects the consensus of the Ogoni people and other stakeholders.
The NSA also highlighted the collective readiness of all parties to support the responsible resumption of oil production in Ogoniland. He stressed that the process would be anchored on fairness, equity, environmental responsibility, and direct community benefits. Additionally, Ribadu noted the need for structured participation by the Ogoni people in economic activities through mechanisms such as equity development funds, employment opportunities, and institutional development.
Gratitude from the Ogoni People
The Chairman of the Presidential Committee, Professor Don Baridam, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to the well-being of the Ogoni people. He described the President’s decision to establish the committee under the leadership of the NSA as a demonstration of foresight and diplomacy. “Your decision to create this committee under the leadership of the National Security Adviser has proven foresight and right,” Baridam said. “His steady hand via diplomacy and relentless insistence on dialogue has earned the trust of other communities and restored hope that had long been thwarted.”
Baridam also thanked the President for conferring posthumous national honours on Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni Nine in June 2025, as well as the additional honours bestowed on the Ogoni Four during the ceremony. He described these gestures as a powerful acknowledgment of the sacrifices made by these individuals in the struggle for environmental justice and human rights in the Niger Delta.
A New Chapter for Ogoniland
The submission of the Ogoni Dialogue Report and the President’s directives mark a turning point in the history of Ogoniland. For decades, the region has been synonymous with environmental degradation, social unrest, and economic marginalization. The protests led by Ken Saro-Wiwa and MOSOP in the 1990s brought global attention to the plight of the Ogoni people, who demanded an end to the environmental devastation caused by oil exploration and a fair share of the region’s resource wealth.
The brutal execution of Saro-Wiwa and his colleagues in 1995 was a dark chapter in Nigeria’s history, but it also galvanized the Ogoni struggle and inspired a broader movement for environmental justice in the Niger Delta. The Federal Government’s actions under President Tinubu’s leadership signal a renewed commitment to addressing these historical grievances and charting a path towards sustainable development.
The resumption of oil production in Ogoniland, if implemented responsibly, has the potential to transform the region’s economy while addressing its environmental challenges. The emphasis on fairness, equity, and community participation ensures that the benefits of oil exploration are shared with the Ogoni people, who have borne the brunt of its negative impacts for decades.
Looking Ahead
As the Federal Government moves forward with its plans for Ogoniland, the focus will be on implementing the recommendations of the Presidential Committee and ensuring that the dialogue process remains inclusive and transparent. The integration of environmental remediation programs with economic development initiatives will be critical to achieving sustainable outcomes. The repositioning of HYPREP, in particular, will play a key role in addressing the region’s environmental challenges while supporting the resumption of oil production.
The Ogoni people, for their part, have expressed a willingness to work with the government to write a new chapter in their history. The consensus reached during the consultation process reflects a shared desire for progress and reconciliation. By closing ranks and embracing dialogue, the Ogoni people are poised to play a central role in shaping the future of their region.
President Tinubu’s commitment to deploying the necessary resources to support the Ogoni people underscores the government’s determination to deliver on its promises. The posthumous honours conferred on the Ogoni Four and the Ogoni Nine are a testament to the administration’s recognition of the sacrifices made by these individuals and their enduring legacy in the struggle for justice.
In conclusion, the events of September 24, 2025, represent a historic moment for Ogoniland and Nigeria as a whole. The submission of the Ogoni Dialogue Report, the conferment of posthumous honours, and the directive to resume oil production signal a new era of hope and opportunity for the Ogoni people. With dialogue, collaboration, and a commitment to fairness, the Federal Government and the Ogoni people are poised to write a new chapter of shared prosperity and environmental restoration.