The Ogoni community in Rivers State has jointly urged the federal government and Shell to complete the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recommendations regarding the cleanup of Ogoniland. They assert that oil exploration should not recommence until significant progress in environmental restoration and justice has been made.
During a recent remembrance event organized by the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) in honor of environmental rights activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and other figures in the Ogoni struggle, community leaders expressed concerns about the efficacy of the ongoing cleanup efforts. Attendees criticized the current initiatives as inadequate and paying mere lip service to remediation. It was argued that these efforts do not meet the standards outlined in the UNEP report.
MOSOP President Lazarus Tamana reflected on Saro-Wiwa’s legacy, highlighting his fight for environmental rights and community autonomy. He emphasized, “We cannot allow them to die in vain,” and pledged to strengthen MOSOP amid existing internal conflicts.
Environmental activist Sebastian Kpalap raised alarms about the cleanup’s integrity, indicating that essential UNEP mandates, like the provision of clean water for affected communities, are not being met. He described the cleanup operations as merely for appearance’s sake, stating, “What they are doing is not remediation.”
Another panelist, Bayo Dornubari, warned against accepting political concessions, such as the potential establishment of an Ogoni state, as a trade-off for resuming oil exploration. “Ogoni will not accept bribery in the name of state,” she stated.
The conversation also highlighted Shell’s accountability for longstanding environmental harm, with moderator Arochukwu Paul Ogbonna insisting that the company should take responsibility for its impact over the past six decades.
Simon Taylor from the Justice for Nigeria Coalition called for an end to delays in the remediation process, echoing sentiments of urgency among the community leaders. Similarly, coalition member Olanrewaju Suraju reminded the Ogoni people of the importance of unity in their ongoing struggle for environmental justice.
Nick Hildyard, also from the coalition, accused oil companies of prioritizing financial gain over the well-being of local communities and ecosystems, claiming, “They do not care about you or the animals or plants.”
International activist Antonio Recommon offered solidarity and committed to maintaining pressure on Shell for accountability regarding environmental damages, vowing, “We are bringing them (Shell) back to pay for the damage.”
The collective message from the event called for the full implementation of UNEP recommendations and stressed the necessity of community involvement, environmental responsibility, and delaying any further oil exploration until the Ogoni people’s concerns are urgently addressed.
