A delegation of the Federal Government, led by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and senior officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, led by Bayo Ojulari, on Monday, paid a visit to Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, in furtherance of the Federal Government’s plan to resume oil explorationn in Ogoni land.
Speaking during the visit at the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt, Ribadu said the delegation’s visit was at the instance of President Bola Tinubu.
According to him, the government is optimistic that a new chapter is about to unfold for Nigeria with Ogoni playing a critical role.
The delegation included the Minister of Works, David Umahi; the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal; and senior officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
As part of the peace process, Governor Fubara had in January 2024 led a delegation of Ogoni stakeholders to meet President Bola Tinubu in Aso Rock to chart a pathway for dialogue and reconciliation.
During the meeting, the President asked the Ogoni leaders to return to their communities, secure broad-based support, and report back to him.
Following this directive, an Ogoni Dialogue Committee, chaired by a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Don Baridam, and co-chaired by a respected cleric, Ignatius Kattey, was constituted.
The committee concluded consultations across Ogoniland and submitted its report to the President this year.
Speaking during the visit, Ribadu recalled that oil resources in Ogoniland had remained untapped for over three decades due to the crisis that shut down exploration activities.
He commended Ogoni leaders and stakeholders for embracing dialogue and praised Governor Fubara for creating a conducive environment for peace.
“We are here as a delegation of President Bola Tinubu. We have senior military officers and top Federal Government officials here in Rivers State,” Ribadu said.
Collectively, Your Excellency, we are on a mission. Thank you for the cooperation and for working together to address challenges we all inherited.
“We are particularly here because of Ogoni. We have done incredibly good work together, and we are here to demonstrate solidarity with the people and to thank them on behalf of Nigeria.”
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