MOSOP Lists Conditions For Resumption Of Oil Exploration In Ogoni

The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has listed conditions for the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoni land, Rivers State.
The conditions are contained in a document titled ‘Memorandum on benchmarks for engagement between Ogoni community and companies desiring to take over the operatorship of Ogoni Fields in OML 11’.
The document, which is a draft of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for any oil company interested in drilling oil in the area was put together by the Ogoni Oil and Gas Production Committee (OOGPC).
The Chairman of the Draft Committee on the Memorandum and Pioneer Secretary of MOSOP, Prof. Ben Naanen, presented the document to some Ogoni stakeholders in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
Naanen, a Professor of Political Economy at the University of Port Harcourt, said any oil firm desiring to do business in Ogoni land must take seriously the need to reduce poverty through sustainable oil and gas investment in the area, noting that 15 per cent of the equity shares derived from the Ogoni oil field must be ceded to the Ogoni Trust Fund for the development of the area.
He further said that apart from gas-powered electrification of Ogoni, such oil companies were expected to work towards the reduction of poverty-related security threats in the communities.
Listing more conditions, he said, “Inclusive benefit-sharing that penetrates the grassroots, the development of an integrated oil and gas industry with accompanying socio-economic opportunities guided by respect for human rights and strict environmental guideline.”
On the deliverables in the memorandum, Naanen said, “8,000 direct and indirect jobs will be created to stimulate production, consumption and economic growth in the area.