Ribadu highlights FG’s bid to resume oil production in Ogoni 30 years after

By Kunle Sanni

National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu has announced that oil production is set to resume in Ogoniland, more than three decades after operations were halted due to environmental degradation and community unrest.

Ribadu made this disclosure on Thursday while addressing stakeholders at the All Progressives Congress (APC) national summit, highlighting it as a major milestone in the economic and security strides under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

“Oil production will soon resume in Ogoniland after over 30 years,” Ribadu said, signaling a new chapter for the oil-rich but crisis-stricken region of the Niger Delta.

Oil drilling activities in Ogoniland were suspended in 1993 following decades of environmental damage, community protests, and accusations of human rights abuses. The area, known for its deep ecological scars, gained international attention after a 2011 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report confirmed severe contamination and called for an extensive clean-up.

Ribadu assured that the federal government is now pursuing a more sustainable and secure approach to resource extraction. He cited a sharp drop in oil theft and vandalism, reporting a 47 percent reduction in infractions in 2025 and the dismantling of nearly 2,000 illegal refineries across the Niger Delta.

“Operation DELTA SAFE, which involves all security services, is helping ensure regional security,” he added, noting that 3,849 illegal dugout pits and 3,773 cooking ovens have also been destroyed as part of the government clampdown.

The anticipated resumption of oil activities in Ogoniland follows President Tinubu’s earlier commitment to reintegrate the region into Nigeria’s oil economy. In March, the Ogoni Dialogue Committee concluded consultations with stakeholders and is expected to submit its recommendations to the federal government.

The announcement has sparked cautious optimism among community members and environmental advocates, who stress the need for transparency, accountability, and full implementation of clean-up efforts before production begins.

Between 1976 and 1991, over two million barrels of oil were spilled in Ogoniland across 2,976 separate incidents, according to official reports. Even after production stopped, the community continued to suffer from hydrocarbon pollution, as confirmed by UNEP in a 2017 review.