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Peterside Blasts Early Oil Exploration In Ogoni Land As ‘Premature

Dakuku Peterside, the former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has voiced his concerns over the proposed resumption of oil exploration in Ogoni land, Rivers State.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Oil exploration in Ogoni land has been halted for years due to environmental degradation controversies and other critical issues. However, the Federal Government is now considering restarting oil activities in the region after a long hiatus.
On January 21, 2024, President Bola Tinubu and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike held a closed-door meeting with Ogoni leaders, led by Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State. Following the meeting, President Tinubu directed National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to oversee negotiations with key stakeholders in Ogoni land, located in the oil-rich Niger Delta, to pave the way for the resumption of oil production.
In an interview with Channels Television, Peterside argued that restarting oil exploration in Ogoni land would be premature unless lingering issues are resolved.
“If I must be sincere with you, it will be premature to resume oil exploration in Ogoni land,” Peterside stated. “What I believe—and I think the government acknowledges this—is the need for further consultations, building trust, and demonstrating genuine commitment to environmental governance.”
He further emphasized that the persistent lack of transparency in oil exploration, not only in Ogoni land but across the Niger Delta, remains a major challenge.
“The way the benefits of oil exploration are distributed, often excluding the very people of the Niger Delta, raises serious concerns. Until these issues are addressed transparently, meaningful progress will remain elusive,” Peterside added.