President Bola Tinubu is currently holding a closed-door meeting with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, and key leaders from Ogoniland.
The meeting, held at the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja, also included a delegation from Ogoni comprising prominent figures and stakeholders.
Fubara’s team arrived earlier at the venue, followed by Wike, whose vehicle was observed arriving around 2:45 p.m. Notable members of the delegation included Senators Lee Maeba, Magnus Abe, Olaka Nwogu, Victor Giadom, Kenneth Kobani, and Monsignor Pius Kii. Other attendees included Leedom Mitee, Senators Bennett Birabi and Barry Mpigi, and Prof. B. Fakae.
The meeting also brought together top federal officials, such as National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, and several cabinet members, including the Ministers of Information, Regional Development, and Environment. Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, was also present.
Although the specific agenda of the discussion has not been disclosed, it is widely believed that the talks revolved around the Ogoni clean-up project and the possible resumption of oil exploration in the region. Ogoniland, located in Rivers State, has long been a focal point of environmental and economic challenges due to the suspension of oil exploration activities and the environmental degradation caused by past operations.
Concerns over the prolonged suspension of oil exploration in Rivers State have been raised by various officials and organizations. The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Samuel Ogbuku, previously noted that conflicts disrupting oil operations in Ogoniland have significantly impacted Nigeria’s economy, particularly following the removal of oil subsidies.
Meanwhile, civil society organizations have demanded $1 trillion in compensation for the environmental and livelihood damages sustained in the Niger Delta.
Groups such as Environmental Rights Action, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, and the Health of Mother Earth Foundation have criticized the Federal Government’s plans to restart oil production, arguing that environmental justice must be addressed first.
Their concerns reference a 2011 UNEP report, which documented severe pollution of Ogoniland’s land, water, and air caused by oil activities. The organizations insist that a thorough clean-up and proper compensation are prerequisites for any resumption of oil exploration.
