Ogoni Oil Resumption: Distrust, Rival Positions Raise Fresh Concerns Over Peace Talks

The Federal Government’s effort to negotiate a peaceful return to oil exploration in Ogoniland is facing fresh concerns, with allegations of a hijacked dialogue process, calls for greater transparency and warnings that rushing the negotiations could undermine an agreement expected to shape the region’s future for generations.

The renewed tension comes more than 30 years after oil production was suspended in Ogoni following years of environmental protests and resistance.

Among those who paid the ultimate price was internationally recognised environmental campaigner Ken Saro-Wiwa, alongside other prominent Ogoni activists and chiefs who fought against environmental degradation.

In January 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu established the Ogoni Dialogue Committee to engage stakeholders and seek a lasting resolution to the issues surrounding oil production in the area.

The committee was also expected to rebuild confidence between Ogoni communities and the Federal Government.

The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, further underscored the government’s interest in the matter when he visited Ogoni on December 22, 2025.

KAGOTE raises alarm

The latest concerns were triggered by the leadership of KAGOTE, the umbrella body representing Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme local government areas.

The organisation alleged that privileged individuals, possibly with links to the NSA’s office, were attempting to influence or hijack the dialogue process.

KAGOTE said President Tinubu’s decision to entrust the process to the NSA demonstrated the government’s commitment to finding a peaceful solution based on reconciliation, equity, transparency and sustainable development.

But KAGOTE President, Chief Lesi Maol, said recent developments had created anxiety among Ogoni communities.

According to him, there were concerns that oil-related activities may have started in some parts of Ogoniland despite the fact that discussions between the government and Ogoni stakeholders had yet to be concluded.

“In my capacity as President of KAGOTE, I have received several representations and expressions of concern from Ogoni communities. Unfortunately, the absence of authoritative information has made it difficult to provide the necessary clarification,” Maol said.

He demanded clarification from the ODC, warning that the lack of information could fuel tension and potentially reopen wounds associated with the 1994 crisis.

KAGOTE also called for an investigation into claims that unauthorised individuals were invoking the name of the NSA in connection with appointments and nominations under the dialogue process.

MOSOP says talks are progressing

While KAGOTE expressed concern, MOSOP offered a more optimistic assessment.

Its President, Fegalo Nsuke, said the negotiations were progressing and expressed confidence that the process could deliver a positive outcome.

“For over 30 years, we have advocated for a peaceful resolution of the Ogoni conflicts. I am glad that the dialogue is ongoing and it is going well. I am also very optimistic that we will strike a good deal from the process,” Nsuke said.

He described the dialogue as a product of Ogoni’s long-standing commitment to non-violent resistance and encouraged other parts of Nigeria to pursue peaceful methods rather than armed struggle.

‘No oil without justice’ — Abiante

The debate over the proposed return of oil production has also exposed differing interests among stakeholders.

Dr Awaji-Inombek Abiante, a member of the House of Representatives representing Andoni–Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency, insisted that oil exploration or production should not resume without justice, environmental remediation, transparency and meaningful community consent.

He acknowledged the importance of economic growth and energy security but argued that these objectives should not come at the expense of the Ogoni people’s rights and welfare.

“My position is therefore clear: any proposed resumption of oil exploration or production in Ogoniland must be preceded by genuine reconciliation, environmental responsibility, transparency and meaningful agreement with the people,” Abiante said.

His stance has been linked by supporters to the principles contained in the Ogoni Bill of Rights adopted on August 26, 1990, which addressed issues including environmental protection, resource allocation and political control.

Ogoni dialogue member questions urgency

Rev. Msgr. Pius Kii, a respected Ogoni cleric and member of the ODC, also questioned the pressure to accelerate the negotiations.

“It took us almost 33 years to get to this point. Why must we now rush the process? If the answer is that elections are approaching, then I respectfully submit that this would be an inadequate reason to compromise the quality of an agreement that may affect Ogoni for generations,” he said.

Kii called on the ODC leadership to open up the process and allow Ogoni people to understand and scrutinise the major issues being negotiated in their name.

He previously served as Secretary of the Port Harcourt Diocesan Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Committee established by the late Bishop Alexius Makozi, with support from the European Union, to assist victims of the Ogoni-Andoni crisis.

Another voice demands accountability

Dr Fabeke Douglas, responding to Abiante in an open letter, pointed to the abandoned Federal College of Fisheries and Maritime Technology project in Ngo, Andoni LGA.

“This project remains a major source of disappointment to our people and a missed opportunity for development and jobs for our youth,” Douglas said.

He added: “The Ogoni people do not need politicians who will use sweet but deceptive press statements to seek our votes. What we need is action, accountability, and fulfilled promises.”

Federal Government charges Ogoni activist

The debate over oil activities has also entered the courtroom.

On Thursday, the Federal Government charged 47-year-old Ogoni activist Gani Topba before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.

Topba, from Khana Local Government Area, faces a four-count charge.

The allegations relate to a video he reportedly made on August 10, 2026, two days after a KAGOTE meeting, which the prosecution said was intended to malign the organisation’s leadership.

The charge further alleged that the publication was intended to seriously destabilise or destroy the fundamental economic and social structure of Ogoniland and potentially trigger a recurrence of the 1994 crisis.

Can trust survive the oil question?

The competing positions illustrate the delicate balance confronting the Federal Government and Ogoni stakeholders.

While MOSOP believes the dialogue is progressing towards a favourable settlement, KAGOTE is demanding greater transparency and clarification over alleged oil activities and influence within the process.

Others, including Abiante and Rev. Kii, are insisting that any agreement must prioritise justice, environmental responsibility, community consent and long-term interests rather than speed.

The Federal Government, meanwhile, appears determined to continue pursuing dialogue as the route towards resolving the decades-old dispute and potentially reopening the way for oil production.

The challenge is whether the parties can rebuild sufficient trust before the question of oil resumption becomes a new source of conflict.

For Ogoni, the issue is not simply whether oil will return. It is whether any return can take place under conditions that address the environmental devastation, historical grievances and demand for meaningful participation that have defined the struggle for more than three decades.

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