Ogoni Land Demands N4.7tn Compensation From FG, Shell

polluted ogoni land

The people of Ogoni land have called on the Federal Government and Shell Petroleum Development Company to pay them the sum of $30bn (N4.7tn) as part of the conditions that will pave the way for the resumption of oil exploration and exploitation in the massively polluted Ogoni land.

Speaking under the auspices of Ogoni Solidarity Forum, OSF, the indigenes of Ogoni land vowed to resist any attempt to commence oil exploitation in the land until their conditions were met.

The National Coordinator of OSF, Mr. Celestine Akpobari, explained that the Federal Government and Shell had made over $100bn within the 30 years of oil exploitation in the area, hence the need to pay $30bn as compensation for the environmental degradation suffered by the people.

Not only that, Akpobari said the government should also ask for forgiveness over the murder of the late environmentalist and activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni leaders who were killed in 1995.

He also expressed the need for government to begin the remediation of Ogoni land, of oil spills and other forms of environmental pollution caused by years of oil exploitation.

“We already have an unfinished business with the Federal Government. We have the Ogoni Bill of Rights, which has not been responded to,” Akpobari said.

“The Federal Government and Shell should pay $30bn for the 30 years they have been operating in Ogoniland. Again, government and Shell must apologise for the murder of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni people.”

“Within the 30 years of their stay in Ogoniland, they have made over $100bn. We also demand that rent and royalties should directly go to oil-producing communities.”

The OSF national coordinator further stated that the people of Ogoni should not be marginalised in the scheme of things in the country. “We want to see our people appointed ministers. Our people should also be managers in big companies,” he said.

Akpobari noted that the creation of Bori State, as clamoured in the region may not be necessary, in as much as the people of Ogoni are given their recognition as a people with special culture and tradition.

“But if at the end of the day, we are given a state, there is no problem with that. All we want is that we should be recognised as indigenous people with special culture and tradition,” he noted.

1 COMMENT

  1. Can someone tell me what Niger-Deltans are taking Nigeria for? They should hold their leaders responsible for their detrimental predicaments. It is only that region in Nigeria that has ministry, amnesty, NDDC, special budgetary allocation, etc. Before oil was discovered in Nigeria, the regions like North and West that generated the highest revenues for the developement of Nigeria never demanded for any preferentialities. The problem of Nigeria today is Jonathan and his people due to the gross corruption and the highest order of moral decadence that is in rampage in that region. Nigeria’s insecurity menace emanated since the time Jonathan was at the corridor of goverment of the federation. When he was a deputy governor corruption was the raining droplet in Bayelsa. When he was a vice president Niger-Delta militancy was the shining sun in Nigeria. And now is the president Boko Haram is the breathing air in Nigeria. May almighty God save Nigeria and her good people from the hands of devil’s incarnates. Amin!