|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has expressed concern over the 500,000 barrels of crude oil trapped daily in Ogoni land since 1993, following Shell Petroleum Development Company’s exit due to disputes with the community.
This was disclosed in a statement co-signed by MOSOP President, Andah Ogosu, and past leaders, Prince Biira and Fegalo Nsuke, during the Ogoni Day celebration held in Bori, Khana Local Government Area, on Saturday. The statement, read by Samuel Nnee, a monarch and traditional ruler of Tai Kingdom, highlighted the plight and demands of the Ogoni people.
Reflecting on MOSOP’s historic protest 32 years ago, Nnee described the conditions faced by the Ogoni people as “dehumanizing and frustrating.” He added, “The aftermath of Nigeria’s response to Ogoni’s call for justice left a painful legacy of persecution, brutality, and loss of lives.”
Nnee lamented the stagnation of the Ogoni oil fields in Oil Mining Lease-11, which have remained undeveloped since Shell’s departure. “A proven oil production capacity of 500,000 barrels per day remains trapped beneath Ogoni soil, while the people live without basic amenities like electricity, clean water, and healthcare, in an environment heavily polluted and uninhabitable,” he stated.
The monarch emphasized MOSOP’s support for the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) and urged immediate action to address water contamination and unlock the trapped crude oil for the region’s benefit.
As part of its blueprint for Ogoni’s development, MOSOP proposed several demands, including:
- The unbundling of the Ogoni oil fields from the existing agreement between Sahara and WAGL for OML-11, with the blocks assigned to an indigenous operator acceptable to all parties.
- A judicial review to exonerate Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa and eight others executed in 1995 and the posthumous award of national honors to the “Ogoni 13.”
- Fast-tracking the presidential assent to establish the Federal University of Environmental Technology in Saakpenwa, Tai Local Government Area.
Speaking on behalf of HYPREP, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey assured the Ogoni people of the agency’s commitment to environmental restoration and urged patience and peace during ongoing remediation efforts.
MOSOP leaders expressed optimism for Ogoni’s future, pledging to focus on unity, peace, and development for the region.
