The Former Director of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Security Company (NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside, has criticized alleged divide-and-rule ways by oil firms working in Ogoniland, warning that such methods create divisions amongst stakeholders.
Talking throughout an interview on Channels TV on Wednesday, Peterside, emphasised that such methods shouldn’t function an excuse to neglect the environmental cleanup, restoration efforts, and provision of social facilities for Ogoni communities.
He urged the federal government and oil firms to undertake a clear governance method in oil exploration, making certain that the longstanding environmental and {economic} issues of the Ogoni individuals are addressed
“What I name the divide and rule ways utilized by those that are doing the extraction. It is vitally frequent the place you’ve an extractive business occurring.
“It isn’t peculiar however what issues is the curiosity of the vast majority of the folks and it’s the identical throughout Niger Delta the place even the oil business has been fingered.
“Within the strategy of dividing folks, the folks alongside totally different strains there are often sub ethnicities, there are totally different {economic} pursuits. It’s not an excuse for us to abdicate the accountability of cleansing Ogoni land, restoring the atmosphere of Ogoni land, offering social facilities,” he acknowledged.
Peterside additionally emphasised that restarting oil exploration in Ogoniland with out addressing the underlying could be untimely.
Challenges thus far
NIMASA’s Former Director highlighted the longstanding lack of transparency in oil exploration not simply in Ogoniland however throughout the Niger Delta.
He famous that oil revenues are sometimes distributed, with out benefiting the folks in oil-producing communities.
“The problem all alongside has been the opaque nature of oil exploration not simply in Ogoni land, in the whole Niger Delta,” Peterside acknowledged.
He additionally identified division amongst Ogoni leaders concerning oil resumption. Whereas some help renewed oil exploration, others insist that correct constructions have to be in place earlier than any operation commences.
Based on him, regardless of these variations, many Ogoni stakeholders are calling for broader session and trust-building.
What you need to know
- In January 2025, President Bola Tinubu held a closed-door assembly with Rivers State stakeholders, together with Governor Siminalayi Fubara, former Governor Nyesom Wike, and Ogoni leaders, to debate the Niger Delta cleanup and rising political tensions.
- The Federal Authorities is planning to renew oil and gasoline production in Ogoniland, notably on OML 11/51 in Ogoni fields as reported by Nairametrics.
- Ogoni youths demanded inclusion within the Federal Authorities’s plans with Ogoni Youth Federation President Basic, Yamaabana Legborsim who emphasised the necessity to contain youths and ladies in discussions on the proposed exploration.