The Ogoni Voice Achievers Foundation (OVAF) has strongly rejected the federal government’s plan to restart oil exploration in Ogoniland, insisting that justice and environmental restoration must come first.
In a statement signed by its Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Hon. Ambassador Gospel Barifii Gokana, OVAF described the government’s move as “deeply flawed, unjust, and unacceptable.”
According to the group, resuming oil activities without addressing decades of pollution and neglect could spark fresh resentment, unrest, and conflict in the region.
The federal government has defended its plans, citing the need for economic recovery and energy security. However, Ambassador Gokana faulted this stance, accusing officials of sidelining the Ogoni people in closed-door negotiations.
“Only a select few have been invited into discussions. This fails the test of free, prior, and informed consent, which is a right under international human rights norms,” he said.
OVAF also raised concerns about the lack of transparency in the process, pointing out that critical details such as environmental impact assessments, benefit-sharing mechanisms, and safety measures have not been made public.
The group highlighted the government’s failure to fully implement the recommendations of the 2011 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report, which exposed severe oil pollution in Ogoniland.
“To restart oil drilling without first implementing UNEP’s recommendations is ethically wrong and will only worsen the suffering of the Ogoni people,” Ambassador Gokana stressed, adding that the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has so far fallen short of expectations.
OVAF listed its non-negotiable conditions for any oil exploration, including:
-
Full implementation of the UNEP report.
-
Reparations for affected communities.
-
An inclusive decision-making process involving OVAF, MOSOP, women, youth, and traditional councils.
-
Binding legal instruments on benefit sharing and independent environmental oversight.
In a symbolic but powerful demand, the group also called for the exoneration of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists executed in 1995, describing it as vital for restoring the dignity of the Ogoni people.
Ambassador Gokana appealed directly to President Bola Tinubu and relevant agencies, urging them to “listen to the voices of the Ogoni people and respect our rights, our land, and our future.”
