The Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, has expressed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the development of Ogoniland in Rivers State, highlighting several initiatives by the current administration aimed at improving the lives of the people.
According to Momoh, President Tinubu is deeply invested in Ogoniland’s future and has made significant efforts to engage with local leaders. “The President is a visionary and understands the concerns of the people. Over the past year, he has held two meetings with Ogoni leaders traditional rulers, political figures, religious leaders, and others in a bid to bring about peace and set the stage for oil exploration in the region,” Momoh said during a recent televised interview.
He commended the President’s inclusive approach, pointing out that during the last meeting, Tinubu directed the National Security Adviser (NSA) to facilitate dialogue among various factions in the region groups that previously could not sit together. “Once peace is established, oil exploration will begin,” Momoh added.
In a move to further demonstrate his commitment to the people of Ogoniland, President Tinubu recently signed into law the establishment of a Federal University of Environment in Ogoniland. This university is dedicated to addressing the environmental challenges faced by the region due to years of oil exploration.
Momoh also pointed out that the Tinubu administration has revitalized several ongoing projects in Ogoniland, many of which had been abandoned in the past. He highlighted the role of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in executing these projects, noting that before the current government, the progress of these initiatives was stagnating.
Ogoniland, home to nearly a million people, became a symbol of the environmental damage caused by oil exploration, particularly following mass protests led by activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni Nine in the 1990s. This led to Shell halting its oil production in the region in 1993. After a UN Environment Programme (UNEP) assessment revealed severe environmental damage, the Nigerian government committed to cleanup efforts, with initial estimates suggesting a cost of $1 billion and five years for remediation. Cleanup activities officially began in January 2019.
As discussions about the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland continue, the Federal Government is focused on balancing economic interests with environmental concerns. While the proposal has sparked debates, some local youths have voiced their support for the resumption of oil exploration, hoping it will bring economic growth and development to the region.
