Oil & Energy
Ogoni Clean-Up: Myth Or Reality

Despair hangs over the entire Ogoni land like a plague, as the people hope against hope over the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recommendations on the remediation of the battered Ogoni environment.
Like most oil producing communities in the Niger Delta, Ogoni bears the brunt of environmental pollution accruing from decades of oil exploration and exploitation in the area.
The hitherto docile population was however roused up through the activities of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) led by the late environmental activist, Ken Saro Wiwa in the early 90s to confront the Royal Dutch oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to account for its operations and activities in the area.
MOSOP specifically demanded that Shell should pay reparations to the Ogoni people for the resources carted away from their land, restore the natural environment or quit.
Shell did not heed to the Ogoni demand, rather the entire Ogoni land was thrown into crisis that led to the decimation of the elitist population of Ogoni.
Pundits referred to the carnage in Ogoni land as a “punitive doze of brutality” over the effrontery of the people to confront their formidable foes; Shell and the military junta.
According to analysts, the military unslaught in Ogoni land was intended to serve as a deterrent to other oil bearing communities in the Niger Delta who may want to raise their head against the powers that be.
In the face of persecution, the Ogonis remained undaunted in spirit and perhaps became the epitome of ethnic minority rights consciousness in Nigeria. The Ogoni crisis attracted global attention and the United Nations rappateurs came to Ogoni for an independent impact assessment on the environment with recommendations now known as UNEP report.
In apparent response to the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report, the Federal Government last year flagged – off the clean up exercise of the Ogoni environment.
The official flag off of the clean up exercise, which was done by the Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo received commendations from various stakeholders.
The peasant population of Ogoni who are the major victims of environmental pollution kept faith with the decision of the Federal Government to clean up the environment and restore their natural sense of existence.
As predominant farmers and fishermen, they were hopeful that life will bounce back through the clean up exercise. But that hope remains elusive as nothing has been done in terms of the palliative measures which are part of the UNEP recommendations to alleviate the plight of the people or the actual clean- up exercise.
The people still continue to drink contaminated water and live on bare subsistence with their means of livelihood destroyed.
A youth – based pressure group in Ogoni land, the Ogoni Youth Federation, believes that the delay in the implementation of the Ogoni environmental clean-up is a deliberate political girnmick designed to frustrate the Ogoni people.
National Coordinator of the body, Comrade Legborsi Yaamabana, who spoke with The Tide in an interview in Port Harcourt, recently, accused Shell and the Federal Government of insincerity in the Ogoni clean-up exercise.
He said both Shell and the Federal Government see Ogoni as intractable given the guts with which they revolted against their over bearing tendencies.
“It is obvious that both Shell and the Federal Government are prancing with the sensitivities of the Ogoni people. Their antics show that they are not committed to the restoration of the Ogoni environment, there is no reason why Ogoni communities will still be drinking benzene as water.
The average Ogoni person domiciled in Ogoni land is prone to cancer and other diseases. Shell is more interested in resuming oil exploration activities in Ogoni than cleaning the environment they polluted”.
Comrade Yamaabana said the Ogoni Youth Federation would soon mobilize its rank and file to stage a peaceful protest at Shell Residential Area in Port Harcourt, for the company to provide portable drinking water to Ogoni communities.
He called on the company to also carry out a medical tour of Ogoni communities and provide medical treatment to the people who are vulnerable to different types of environmental infected diseases.
The youth activist also vowed that the group would resist any attempt by Shell to resume oil exploration in Ogoni.
Recently the Ogoni Youth federation also summoned major stakeholders of Ogoni to a round table discussion on the Ogoni clean-up at Londa Hotel in Port Harcourt.
In attendance at the meeting were the President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Comrade Legborsi Pyagbara, the President of KAGOTE, a Pan Ogoni socio-cultural organisation, Dr Peter Medee, elder statesman, Senator Gbene Cyrus Nunie among several others.
The Coordinator of the Hydro Carbon Pollution and Remediation Project, Dr Marvin Dekil was however absent at the meeting.
Issues raised at the round-table discussion included outright demands by the Ogoni youth over the clean-up exercise, especially on the remittal and management of funds by key stakeholders in the projects.
MOSOP President, Legborsi Pyagbara explained that the clean-up exercise was on course, but expressed regret over the indifference on the part of the Federal Government in the disbursement of fund for the project.
“It is a thing of regret that the clean-up exercise in Ogoni is still at a point of stagnation after official flag- off by the Federal Government, we expect full commitment on the part of Federal Government and Shell in the executions of the project”.
On the allegations of mismanagement of fund, the MOSOP president, who is a member of the Governing Council of HYPREP and Board of trustees of UNEP, said the $10 million so far released for the project was intact, adding that lack of disbursement of fund was stunting the project. In his remark, the President of KAGOTE, Dr Peter Medee also corroborated the MOSOP president, stating that the $10 million was intact.
Medee, who is also a member of the Governing Council of HYPREP, said vigilance was exerted on the management of the fund, as no single signatory would withdraw any money for any purpose without the consent of the board. He said: “I am an Ogoni, and I represent the interest of Ogoni, we will not tolerate any compromise against the people on the clean up exercise”.
He however called on Shell and the Federal Government to expedite action on the clean-up exercise by providing the necessary fund for the project.
On her part, the Rivers State Commissioner for Environment, Prof Roseline Konya said the clean-up exercise was still undergoing some planning stages at the moment, but called on Shell and the Federal Government to expedite action on the project by providing the necessary funds.
Konya, who is also a member of the Governing Council of HYPREP said 100% restoration of Ogoni environment was not possible due to the colossal damage but expressed hope in the remediation process which she said was a huge project to the tune of $1 billion.
In the interim, she said: “the Ogoni people have suffered so much and should be able to leverage on some social incentives especially good water supply among other palliative economic provisions while the project goes on”.
Musing over the clean up exercise, an activist, Comrade Lekia Christian said the high hope raised by the flag-off of the Ogoni clean-up has been dashed as the system has caved into the endemic pitfalls that are characteristic of the Nigerian system”.
He said a rebound can be sustained in the clean-up exercise when the key stakeholders demonstrate sincerity of purpose beyond sloganisation of the project.
Effort to speak with the coordinator of HYPREP, Marvin Deekii was abortive as he did not respond to his calls.
Taneh Beemene
Oil & Energy
Nigeria Loses More Crude Oil Than Some OPEC Members – Nwoko

Nigeria’s losses due to crude oil theft has been said to be more significant than those of some other members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries(OPEC).
The Chairman, Senate Ad- hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft, Senator Ned Nwoko, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
Nwoko noted with dismay the detrimental impact of the issue, which, he said include economic damage, environmental destruction, and its impact on host communities.
According to him, the theft was not only weakening the Naira, but also depriving the nation of vital revenue needed for infrastructure, healthcare, education and social development.
The Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District described the scale of the theft as staggering, with reports indicating losses of over 200,000 barrels per day.
Nwoko disclosed that the ad hoc committee on Crude Oil Theft, which he chairs, recently had a two-day public hearing on the rampant theft of crude oil through illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism, and the systemic gaps in the regulation and surveillance of the nation’s petroleum resources.
According to him, the public hearing was a pivotal step in addressing one of the most pressing challenges facing the nation.
‘’Nigeria loses billions of dollars annually to crude oil theft. This is severely undermining our economy, weakening the Naira and depriving the nation of vital revenue needed for infrastructure, healthcare, education, and social development.
‘’The scale of this theft is staggering, with reports indicating losses of over 200,000 barrels per day more than some OPEC member nations produce.
‘’This criminal enterprise fuels corruption, funds illegal activities and devastates our environment through spills and pollution.
‘’The public hearing was not just another talk shop; it was a decisive platform to uncover the root causes of crude oil theft, bunkering and pipeline vandalism.
‘’It was a platform to evaluate the effectiveness of existing surveillance, monitoring, and enforcement mechanisms; Identify regulatory and legislative gaps that enable these crimes to thrive.
‘’It was also to engage stakeholders, security agencies, host communities, oil companies, regulators, and experts to proffer actionable solutions; and strengthen legal frameworks to ensure stricter penalties and more efficient prosecution of offenders”, he said.
Nwoko noted that Nigeria’s survival depended
Oil & Energy
Tap Into Offshore Oil, Gas Opportunities, SNEPCO Urges Companies

Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd. (SNEPCo) has called on Nigerian companies to position themselves strategically to take full advantage of the growing opportunities in upcoming offshore and shallow water oil and gas projects.
The Managing Director, SNEPCO, Ronald Adams, made the call at the 5th Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) Conference, held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, last Thursday.
Adams highlighted the major projects, including Bonga Southwest Aparo, Bonga North, and the Bonga Main Life Extension, as key areas where Nigerian businesses can grow their capacity and increase their involvement.
“Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd. (SNEPCo) says Nigerian companies have a lot to benefit if they are prepared to take advantage of more opportunities in its offshore and shallow water oil and gas projects.
“Projects such as Bonga Southwest Aparo, Bonga North and Bonga Main Life Extension could grow Nigerian businesses and improve their expertise if they applied themselves seriously to executing higher value contracts”, Adams stated.
Adams noted that SNEPCo pioneered Nigeria’s deepwater oil exploration with the Bonga development and has since played a key role in growing local industry capacity.
He emphasized that Nigerian businesses could expand in key areas like logistics, drilling, and the construction of vital equipment such as subsea systems, mooring units, and gas processing facilities.
The SNEPCO boss explained that since production began at the Bonga field in 2005, SNEPCo has worked closely with Nigerian contractors to build systems and develop a skilled workforce capable of delivering projects safely, on time, and within budget both in Nigeria and across West Africa.
According to him, this long-term support has enabled local firms to take on key roles in managing the Bonga Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, which reached a major milestone by producing its one-billion barrel of oil on February 3, 2023.
Oil & Energy
Administrator Assures Community Of Improved Power Supply

The Emohua Local Government Area Administrator, Franklin Ajinwo, has pledged to improve electricity distribution in Oduoha Ogbakiri and its environs.
Ajinwo made the pledge recently while playing host in a courtesy visit to the Oduoha Ogbakiri Wezina Council of Chiefs, in his office in Rumuakunde.
He stated that arrangements are underway to enhance available power, reduce frequent outages, and promote steady electricity supply.
The move, he said, was aimed at boosting small and medium-scale businesses in the area.
“The essence of power is not just to have light at night. It’s for those who can use it to enhance their businesses”, he said.
The Administrator, who commended the peaceful nature of Ogbakiri people, urged the Chiefs to continue in promoting peace and stability, saying “meaningful development can only thrive in a peaceful environment”.
He also charged the Chiefs to protect existing infrastructure while promising to address the challenges faced by the community.
Earlier, the Oduoha Ogbakiri Wezina Council of Chiefs, led by HRH Eze Goodluck Mekwa Eleni Ekenta XV, expressed gratitude to the Administrator over his appointment and pledged their support to his administration.
The chiefs highlighted challenges facing the community to include incessant power outage, need for new transformers, and the completion of Community Secondary School, Oduoha.
The visit underscored the community’s expectations from the LGA administration.
With Ajinwo’s assurance of enhancing electricity distribution and promoting development, the people of Oduoha Ogbakiri said they look forward to a brighter future.
By: King Onunwor