In Bori Rivers State at the weekend, hundreds of Ogoni men and women walked the streets in a peaceful protest that carried a message far heavier than the placards in their hands. Their demand was simple, stop the resumption of oil exploration in parts of Ogoniland, but the emotion behind it spoke to a history many in the community say has not healed.
The protesters gathered to oppose reported oil activities in 17 communities in Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State, areas they say were among the worst hit during the violent crises that engulfed Ogoniland in the 1990s. For them, the return of oil operations without what they describe as proper engagement and restoration feels like a reopening of old wounds.
Ogoniland occupies a unique place in Nigeria’s oil history. It was here that agitation against environmental pollution and perceived injustice grew into an international movement led by the late Ken Saro-Wiwa. It was here too that communities were destroyed, lives were lost and families displaced during the military era. Decades later, many residents say the environmental and social damage from that period still defines their daily reality.
This background explains why the weekend protest, though orderly, is being interpreted by observers as a sign of deep unease in a region where anger over pollution, neglect and broken promises still simmers beneath the surface.
Placards displayed during the march bore inscriptions such as ‘Free Ogoni Land from Economic Slavery’, ‘No to Oil Resumption’, ‘NNPCL bring back our $300 million’ and ‘No to Sahara Energy’. The slogans reflected both environmental concerns and distrust of the process surrounding the reported oil resumption.
Speaking for the protesters, the Executive Director of the Ogoni Liberation Initiative, Douglas Fabeke, said the Federal Government should have resolved longstanding issues before allowing any oil activity to recommence in the affected communities.
“We have raised several issues with NNPCL and relevant agencies over time concerning environmental injustice in these areas,” Fabeke said. “These communities were destroyed and burnt down between 1993 and 1998, with over 300 people killed. The people and the environment have not been restored.”
He said many indigenes from the affected communities remain displaced, with some living outside Nigeria in countries such as Benin Republic and Cameroon, while others within the country are still without permanent homes.
Fabeke warned that resuming oil operations under such conditions could pose health risks and, more significantly, lead to renewed tension.
“We do not want another crisis in Ogoniland. That is why we are calling on the President to order a halt to these activities so proper negotiations can take place,” he said.
The group also called for direct Federal Government oversight of Oil Mining Lease 11 and demanded meaningful dialogue with host communities. It rejected the involvement of Sahara Energy in the area, declaring the company persona non grata in Ogoni.
“We are open to negotiations with NNPCL and government agencies, but Sahara Energy is not acceptable to us,” Fabeke stated.
Another issue raised during the protest was a reported $300 million fund said to be linked to Ogoni development. Fabeke claimed he had been part of a committee set up in relation to the fund but said neither his organisation nor the communities had received any briefing on how the money was being handled.
Beyond the specific demands, the protest has drawn attention to the fragile nature of peace in Ogoniland. Although the area has not witnessed the kind of unrest seen in previous decades, many residents say the core issues that fuelled past agitations -pollution, displacement, lack of remediation and exclusion from decision-making - remain largely unresolved.
The United Nations Environment Programme’s 2011 report on Ogoniland recommended extensive clean-up and restoration. While remediation efforts are ongoing, critics argue that progress has been slow and has not significantly improved living conditions in many communities.
In this context, the perceived return of oil operations without visible closure on past grievances is being viewed with suspicion.
The protesters hinted that if their concerns are not addressed, they may take their agitation to Abuja, escalating what began as a local demonstration into a national issue.
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