President Bola Tinubu has praised the people of Ogoniland for embracing peace and cooperation, describing the development as a critical milestone in Nigeria’s quest for stability, development and national renewal.
He also commended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, for what he called responsible leadership that has helped keep the state largely peaceful.
The President’s message was delivered by a high-powered federal delegation led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, during a visit to Rivers State to assess progress in Ogoniland ahead of a possible resumption of oil exploration.
The delegation included senior military commanders and top government officials.
The renewed focus on Ogoni peace is linked to the Federal Government’s plan to boost crude oil output to 1.84 million barrels per day as projected in the 2026 fiscal framework.
Oil production in Ogoniland has been suspended for decades due to environmental degradation and unrest, but a Federal Government-constituted Ogoni Dialogue Committee submitted its report to President Tinubu in September 2025 after extensive stakeholder engagements.
However, opposition to resuming oil activities remains strong among Ogoni groups and civil society organisations, including Amnesty International.
Environmental activist Celestine Akpobari stressed that lasting peace cannot be achieved without justice for victims of past violence, comprehensive environmental remediation and an end to political marginalisation, noting that the ongoing cleanup is still at an early stage and could take decades.
Similarly, Sir Joe Korka-Waadah, a relative of late activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, criticised what he described as diversionary government projects and reiterated longstanding Ogoni demands, including Saro-Wiwa’s exoneration, full environmental cleanup and implementation of the Ogoni Bill of Rights.
Ribadu, however, said President Tinubu is encouraged by the unity among communities, security agencies and government institutions, which he described as central to the peace now prevailing in Rivers State.