Ogoni Land Oil Exploration: Peterside’s Stance
Dakuku Peterside, former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has expressed concerns about the Federal Government’s decision to resume oil exploration in Ogoni land. Peterside stated that such a move would be premature, given the unresolved environmental and social issues in the region.
He emphasized that the clean-up of Ogoni land, as recommended by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is still incomplete, and resuming oil exploration without addressing the environmental degradation and community concerns could reignite tensions.
Peterside urged the government to prioritize the well-being of the Ogoni people by fully implementing the UNEP report, restoring livelihoods, and engaging stakeholders in a transparent dialogue.