Tinubu in Closed Door Meeting with Wike, Fubara, and Ogoni Leaders Amidst Demands for Niger Delta Cleanup
BUsman A Harande
President Bola Tinubu is currently in a closed-door meeting with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, and Ogoni leaders. This meeting comes on the heels of demands by a coalition of civil society organizations for the Federal Government to allocate $1 trillion for the cleanup of the Niger Delta and compensation for lost livelihoods before resuming crude oil production in Ogoniland.
The coalition, which includes Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), and Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), expressed concerns over the government’s plans to resume oil production in Ogoniland without addressing past environmental degradation and human rights violations.
√Key Demands by the Coalition:
✓Immediate Cleanup of Ogoniland: Full implementation of the 2011 UNEP report recommendations
✓Justice for Ken Saro-Wiwa: Exoneration and recognition as an environmental hero
✓Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC): Ensure all decisions involving Ogoniland respect the principle of FPIC
✓Transition to Renewable Energy: Mitigate environmental harm by transitioning to renewable energy sources
Other high-ranking officials attending the meeting include the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. The outcome of this meeting will be closely watched, as it has significant implications for the environment, human rights, and the economy of the Niger Delta region.
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