The National Youth Council of the Ogoni People (NYCOP), alongside various Ogoni factions, has voiced support for restarting oil exploration activities in Ogoniland, signaling a potential economic resurgence.
This stance was publicly declared during a Peace Walk in Bori, the administrative center of Khana Local Government Area, underscoring the pressing need for what they describe as an “Economic Rebirth” in the region.
Oil exploration has been on hold for over forty years due to the severe environmental impact caused by the operations of international oil firms.
Despite this, since 2017, concerted efforts have been made to remediate the oil pollution.
The recent push for economic revitalization has reignited discussions about the possibility of resuming oil exploration.
Participants of the Peace Walk, including NYCOP members and other group representatives, paraded from Yeghe to Bori, displaying signs calling for economic revival and the recommencement of oil drilling.
Speaking at the event’s zenith in Bori, leaders laid out specific prerequisites that the Federal Government must fulfill before oil exploration can be reinstated.
Key demands include clearing the name of the late environmental crusader Ken Saro-Wiwa and his associates from the treason allegations that resulted in their execution.
Additionally, they seek the allocation of prime oil blocks to Ogoni natives.
NYCOP’s President, Barinuazor Emmanuel, denounced the perceived exclusion of Ogoni citizens from the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) processes and spotlighted the ongoing electricity deficit in Bori, despite the significant international investment for the cleanup initiative.
Conversely, HYPREP Project Coordinator Nenibarini Zabbey recently reaffirmed the project’s dedication to youth involvement and emphasized the necessity of adhering to project standards and capabilities.
He also noted that electrification efforts are in progress.
As the advocacy for oil exploration renewal in Ogoniland intensifies, it presents a challenging equilibrium between fostering economic development and preserving environmental integrity.
