Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, MOSOP, says the ongoing dialogue initiated by the Office of the National Security Adviser could open a critical pathway toward resolving over 33 years of tensions surrounding possible resumption of oil production in Ogoniland.
The group described the engagement coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, as a potential turning point in efforts to rebuild trust between the Ogoni people, the Nigerian state, and stakeholders in the oil and gas industry.
MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke, speaking at a leaders’ meeting in Port Harcourt, said the current process represents a shift from past failed attempts to reopen Ogoni oil fields under contentious conditions.
“The ongoing dialogue process significantly departs from previous approaches of the government and deserves to be tested,” Nsuke said, adding that the engagement must prioritise long-term stability in any future oil production framework.
He noted that discussions around Ogoni oil resumption must be rooted in community ownership of outcomes and transparent benefit-sharing mechanisms. “The current approach is people-centered, and we commend the ONSA for this initiative,” he stated.
Nsuke warned against attempts to distort the dialogue process for private or commercial interests, stressing that the stakes around Ogoni oil production remain historically sensitive.
“We urge the public to discountenance self-centered attempts to derail the progress recorded so far. The focus must be on mutual benefits for the Ogoni people,” he said.
He further emphasized that MOSOP would not support any arrangement that undermines collective rights in future oil operations. “MOSOP has strongly insisted only on collective benefits that represent the sacrifices of the Ogoni people,” Nsuke added.
Linking the issue directly to potential oil resumption, he cautioned against efforts to privatise benefits from Ogoni resources. “Whoever wants to own an oil company should register with the CAC and not attempt to shortchange Ogoni interests,” he said.
Nsuke reiterated that MOSOP’s position remains that any future oil production in Ogoniland must reflect justice, environmental safeguards, and equitable benefit distribution. “We have an opportunity to discuss mutual benefits, and MOSOP will strongly back a mutually beneficial settlement from the ongoing dialogue,” he stated.
The renewed engagement is being closely watched across the Niger Delta, where Ogoni oil fields have remained largely inactive for decades following sustained community resistance, environmental concerns, and governance disputes.
