Former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside, has expressed his views on the proposed resumption of oil exploration in Ogoni land, Rivers State.
According to reports, oil exploration in Ogoni has been halted for years due to concerns over environmental degradation and other related issues. However, the Federal Government is now considering restarting operations after a long suspension.
On January 21, 2024, President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, held a closed-door meeting with Ogoni leaders, led by Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, to discuss the matter. Following the meeting, Tinubu instructed the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, to lead negotiations with various stakeholders in Ogoni land, a key region in the oil-rich Niger Delta, to facilitate the resumption of oil production.
Speaking on the development during an interview with Channels Television, Peterside argued that restarting oil exploration in Ogoni would be premature unless critical unresolved issues are adequately addressed.
He said, “If I must be sincere with you, it will be premature to resume oil exploration in Ogoni land. What I think and I think that is the part the government has also chosen is to do further consultations, build trust and show genuine commitment to real environmental governance.”
The challenge all along has been the opaque nature of oil exploration not just in Ogoni land but in the entire Niger Delta.
“And the fact that the way benefits derivable from oil exploration is distributed to the exclusion of the people of Niger Delta is a big question mark. And until we address that in a transparent manner then we will not make much progress,” he said.
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