From Our Correspondent
Bori (Rivers), Oct. 30, ’25 (TNZ) The Ogoni Central Indegenious Authority (OCIA) has re-echoed stance against resumption of oil production in Ogoni land, saying proposed plan by the Federal Government will not stand.
TheNewsZenith reports that OCIA is an indegenious government of the Ogoni people. The Distinct Ogoni Nation (DON) has also endorsed it twice through referendum.
The OCIA, a sovereign institution recognised by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indegenious Peoples (UNDRIP) is saddled with the responsibility of protecting Ogoni land, its natural resources, and advancing indegenious government rooted in equity and justice.
At the grand finale of a month-long environment awareness rally recently in Bori, Khana LGA of Rivers, OCIA reaffirmed its position against crude oil resumption in the area.
In a six-points resolution adopted by its executives, the body warned local and international investors as well as finance institutions against funding or partnering government on planned petroleum resumption in Ogoniland.
It also threatened confrontation, reputational damage, and operational failures on any investor who fails to abide by the warning.
”We, the People of Ogoni hereby, reject tokenism in all forms, universities, roads, or press statements that mask exploitation is deceptive.
“We declare the press statement issued by NNPC on Sept. 26, 2025, as misleading.
“No petroleum activity has resumed in Ogoniland and Ogoni people have not given consent either to the government nor any investor.
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“We reaffirm our right to self-government and resource control, as enshrined in the Ogoni Bill of Rights. We are protected under international law, including UNDRIP,” TheNewsZenith quotes the resolution as reading in part.
Earlier, in an online remarks, Dr Goodluck Diigbo, US based President of OCIA, said the federal government is engaging in conduct that undermined its own laws while also invoking the language of reconciliation.
Diigbo noted that OCIA was enforcing the United Nations Declaration on the UNDRIP particularly, the right to self-determination.
“Ogoni people have the right to self-determination, including autonomy over their political, economic, and social development.
“We also have the right to maintain our distinct political, economic, social, and cultural institutions,” TheNewsZenith quotes Diigbo as saying.
Recall that the Federal Government has been pushing for resumption of petroleum activities in Ogoniland.
This is even as there exist, a 30 years suspension following issues of environmental damage in the area.
While the government targets oil resumption, the OCIA demands full implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). It also seeks transparency on one-billion-dollar HYPREP funds. (TNZ)
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