President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday conferred posthumous national honours of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on the late Ogoni Four — Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Theophilus Orage, and Samuel Orage. The recognition was announced at the Presidential Villa in Abuja during the presentation of the Ogoni Consultations Committee report.
Tinubu described the gesture as part of his administration’s effort to heal old wounds and foster reconciliation in Ogoniland, urging the people to embrace unity after decades of division. “May their memories continue to inspire unity, courage, and purpose among us,” he said. “I urge the Ogoni people across classes, communities, and generations to close ranks, put this dark chapter behind us, and move forward as a united community with one voice.”
Beyond symbolic recognition, the President used the occasion to pledge his government’s commitment to peace, environmental remediation, and economic revival in Ogoniland. He confirmed plans to facilitate the resumption of oil production in the area, more than three decades after operations were suspended. Oil exploration in Ogoniland stopped in 1993 following protests against environmental degradation, protests that culminated in the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other activists in 1995.
Tinubu recalled that in 2022, the previous administration handed over the operatorship of the Ogoni oil field to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its partners. He promised that his administration would build on that decision to ensure production resumes under a framework that prioritizes shared prosperity and sustainability.
To this end, the President directed the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, to begin engagements between Ogoni communities, NNPCL, and other stakeholders to finalise modalities for restarting operations. He also instructed the Minister of Environment to integrate pollution remediation into ongoing dialogue with the people, ensuring that environmental cleanup goes hand-in-hand with renewed oil production.
Presenting the report, Ribadu explained that consultations cut across all four Ogoni zones as well as the diaspora, capturing demands for structured community participation in oil production, accelerated cleanup of polluted lands, and sustainable development projects. Professor Don Baridam, who chaired the Dialogue Committee, noted that the report reflects the collective will of the Ogoni people and should serve as a blueprint for implementation through an inter-agency task force.
While hailing the President’s commitments, Ribadu reassured that the government would strictly implement all directives to consolidate peace and address past injustices. “Peace is being restored already, and Nigerians will soon see the benefits, not just in Ogoniland, but across the Niger Delta and beyond,” he said.
Meanwhile, some Ogoni groups, including the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), have urged caution. They stressed that any resumption of oil production must be accompanied by justice, environmental remediation, and respect for the Ogoni Bill of Rights to prevent a repeat of past conflicts.
