The administration of President Bola Tinubu, through National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, is organizing a confidential meeting with prominent Ogoni leaders to discuss the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland, Chronicles Reporters has learned.
Sources revealed that the meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, January 21, 2025, will take place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The arrangements are being coordinated by Ribadu’s office, with invitations sent out by his Special Assistant, Goodluck Ebelo.
Lavish preparations have reportedly been made for the event. Selected Ogoni leaders are to stay at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja for two nights, starting Monday, January 20, 2025. Travel logistics, including flights from Port Harcourt to Abuja, are being arranged.
According to an insider, “This meeting is aimed at securing the Ogoni leaders’ approval for the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland after a well-crafted deal.”
In the invitation letter, Ebelo stated:
“I hope this message finds you well. On behalf of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, I am pleased to invite you, as an important Ogoni stakeholder, to a meeting with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
“Reservations have been made for you at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, for two nights, beginning from Monday. You will soon receive details regarding your flight from Port Harcourt on Monday, January 20, 2025, and other logistics. We look forward to your presence. Should you have any questions, kindly contact us.”
Ogoniland has long been a hotbed of activism and environmental struggles due to the devastating impact of past oil operations. The region has been plagued by ecological degradation and community grievances, which have sparked calls for justice and accountability.
In 2011, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released a groundbreaking report detailing the extensive environmental damage in Ogoniland. The report recommended a thorough cleanup of the area, but progress has been painfully slow, leaving many unresolved issues.
Community leaders and activists have consistently demanded comprehensive environmental remediation and equitable resource management before any discussions on oil exploration can proceed.
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