Ogoni Oil Resumption: KAGOTE Raises The Alarm Over Process Hijack By Individuals

The federal government’s plan to resume oil production in Ogoni after 32 years may run into hitches as some privileged members of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee (ODC) have been accused of compromising the process.

This is as KAGOTE, a synonym of Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme local government areas that make up Ogoniland, raised the alarm over the alleged clandestine resumption of oil activities in some parts of Ogoni. In contrast, the peace process with the federal government.

The leadership of KAGOTE said there was growing apprehension among sections of the Ogoni population that certain oil-related activities may have commenced in parts of Ogoniland. At the same time, consultations between the federal government and Ogoni stakeholders remain ongoing, a situation the group said could heighten distrust.

Recall that the Ogoni Dialogue Committee (ODC) was inaugurated by the federal government in January 2025 with the mandate of engaging the people towards achieving a durable resolution of the issues surrounding the resumption of oil production in Ogoniland, while rebuilding trust and strengthening relations between the Ogoni people and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Speaking at a press conference in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, KAGOTE President, Chief Lesi Maol, expressed appreciation for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to addressing the Ogoni people’s longstanding concerns.

Maoll said the establishment of the dialogue process and the President’s decision to entrust its coordination to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, as the Chief Negotiator on the part of the Government, underscores the seriousness with which it approaches the Ogoni question and the desire to promote reconciliation, peace, equity, transparency and sustainable development.

“We particularly recognise and appreciate the integrity and distinguished public service record of the National Security Adviser and believe that the dialogue process, as conceived by the Federal Government, represents a genuine opportunity to achieve lasting peace and a mutually beneficial outcome for both the Ogoni people and the Federal Government”, he said

The KAGOTE President, however, raised concerns over the conduct of a few individuals in the Dialogue Committee whose actions, he said, require urgent clarification and intervention to preserve the credibility of the dialogue process.

“There is growing apprehension among sections of the Ogoni population that certain oil-related activities may have commenced in parts of Ogoniland while consultations between the Federal Government and Ogoni stakeholders remain ongoing, warning that the absence of clear information from the leadership of the ODC on this matter has created uncertainty within the communities.

“In my capacity as President of KAGOTE, I have received several representations and expressions of concern from Ogoni communities. Unfortunately, the absence of authoritative information has made it difficult to provide the necessary clarification.

“We therefore respectfully request that the position regarding the status of oil activities in Ogoniland be clearly communicated to the people to prevent misinformation, speculation and unnecessary tension”, Maol said.

He said concerns have arisen regarding the selection process, applicable criteria, and the distribution of opportunities. Just so you know – members and stakeholders have not been sufficiently informed about these matters, despite requests for clarification. We believe that greater transparency would protect the integrity of this important Federal Government initiative and ensure that its benefits are seen to be fairly distributed across Ogoniland”.

Maol alleged that the smuggling of names of non-members of ODC into the harmonisation under the guise that it was the directive of the NSA, adding that it is the ODC that ought to nominate its team to negotiate with the NSA independently to show transparency in the process.

“I do not believe that the NSA would take such a decision, knowing well that such a decision would interfere with the independence of the ODC and transparency of the process. We wish to state clearly that we have no basis to conclude that these actions were authorised by the National Security Adviser or his Office, unless otherwise confirmed by the NSA”.

He called on the Office of the NSA to investigate these claims and clarify the position, stating that such intervention would protect the integrity of the Office of the NSA and reassure the Ogoni people that no person is improperly using the authority of that Office to advance private or sectional interests.

Moal said that the conduct of certain individuals in the dialogue process has resulted in personal attacks, inflammatory statements, and unnecessary divisions among Ogoni stakeholders.

He called for an urgent investigation into the allegations that the name and authority of the NSA are being invoked by unauthorised persons in relation to appointments, contracts or nominations within the dialogue process.

“We believe that such intervention will strengthen, rather than weaken, the dialogue process and will demonstrate that the Federal Government remains committed to fairness, transparency and genuine engagement with the Ogoni people.

“Such conduct, where established, should be condemned because it has the potential to undermine the President’s reconciliation initiative, damage confidence in the dialogue and create unnecessary tension between the Ogoni people and a government that has demonstrated a willingness to engage with us”, he said.