President Bola Tinubu is currently in a closed-door meeting with Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, along with leaders from Ogoniland, representing four Local Government Areas in the state.
Fubara and the Ogoni delegation had arrived earlier at the Council Chamber of the State House. Our correspondent noted that around 2:45 pm, the official vehicle of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, was seen arriving at the Villa, indicating his presence for the ongoing discussions.
The delegation led by Governor Fubara includes several prominent figures such as Senators Lee Maeba, Magnus Abe, Olaka Nwogu, Victor Giadom, Kenneth Kobani, Monsignor Pius Kii, Leedom Mitee, Senators Bennett Birabi, Barry Mpigi, Kenneth Kobani, and Professor B. Fakae, among others.
Also in attendance are the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed; Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh; Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas; and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari.
Although the agenda of the meeting has not been disclosed, it is believed to be connected to the Ogoni clean-up project and the potential resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland, Rivers State.
The Federal Government has previously raised concerns about the long suspension of oil exploration in Rivers State.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Samuel Ogbuku, has also expressed worry over the conflicts that halted oil exploration and exploitation by international oil companies in Ogoniland.
Ogbuku noted that the ongoing standoff, coupled with a growing energy crisis following the removal of oil subsidies by the Federal Government, has deprived the nation of significant contributions to its Gross Domestic Product over the years.
Meanwhile, a coalition of civil society organisations has demanded $1 trillion from the Federal Government for the clean-up of the Niger Delta and compensation for the loss of livelihoods before crude oil production can resume in Ogoniland.
The demands were outlined in a statement by organisations including Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, and the Health of Mother Earth Foundation, expressing concerns over the government’s reported plans to restart oil production in the community.
The group criticized the move, describing it as a disregard for environmental justice.
The statement also referenced the 2011 UNEP report, which documented extensive environmental degradation in Ogoniland caused by oil activities, including widespread pollution of land, water, and air.