US-based Anti-Corruption Groups Urge Tinubu Government To Resolve Issues Affecting Ogoniland, Implement UN Resolutions On Treatment Of Oil-rich Communities.
US-based anti-corruption groups have urged the administration of President Bola Tinubu to address the issues facing the Ogoni people in Rivers State and implement UN resolutions regarding the treatment of oil-rich communities. In a joint press statement, members of the National Union of Ogoni Students International (NUOS INT’L USA), the Center for Democracy, Human Rights, and Anti-Corruption International (CDHRAC INTL USA), and the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) emphasized the need for the Ogoni people to be treated with dignity, especially considering the years of environmental degradation they have endured despite their region’s oil wealth.
The groups expressed concern over the lack of development in Ogoniland and highlighted the severe pollution caused by oil spills, particularly by companies like Shell Oil, which have operated in the region since the 1950s. They cited staggering statistics of oil pollution between 1976 and 1991 and emphasized the ongoing threat to the livelihoods of the Ogoni people. Despite the cessation of oil production, the presence of Shell Oil pipelines continues to pose environmental risks.
They called on the Nigerian government, specifically the Ministry of Niger Delta Development, to prioritize the total cleanup of Ogoniland and to compensate the affected communities for their losses. Additionally, they urged President Tinubu to take proactive measures to address the grievances of the Ogoni people, including convening a stakeholders’ meeting involving various groups, opinion leaders, and elders from Ogoniland. They emphasized the importance of Diaspora representation in such meetings.
Furthermore, the groups proposed the establishment of a committee comprising elders, stakeholders, government representatives, and youth from Ogoniland to address the issues affecting the region. They also stressed the need for the full implementation of UN recommendations on the treatment of oil-producing areas like Ogoniland, calling for special attention and development initiatives from the government.
In addition to demanding an increase in the number of local governments in Ogoniland to facilitate development, the groups advocated for greater representation of Ogoni people in federal appointments. They urged the government to consult with Ogoni groups both at home and abroad to ensure that the right individuals are appointed to champion their interests effectively.
Tinubu
The groups criticized Shell Oil for its role in the environmental degradation of Ogoniland and called for substantial compensation for the damages caused. They rejected Shell’s purported onshore oil sale as “daylight robbery” and urged the government to reject it as well.
Furthermore, they highlighted their previous correspondence with the United Nations, where they recommended the involvement of an international remediation firm with expertise in environmental restoration to oversee the cleanup of Ogoniland. They called for urgent action to address the environmental crisis in the region and protect the Ogoni people from further harm.
Overall, the groups emphasized the urgent need for government intervention to address the longstanding issues facing the Ogoni people and ensure their rights and well-being are protected.
Sahara News
