By Innocent Edemhanria
Ogoniland, located in Nigeria’s Niger Delta, is home to the Ogoni people, who have long suffered the consequences of oil exploitation. Since the discovery of oil in the region by Shell in 1958, Ogoniland has been at the heart of Nigeria’s oil economy, contributing significantly to national revenues. However, for decades, the Ogoni people have endured devastating environmental degradation, loss of livelihoods, and systemic neglect—issues that ignited one of the most persistent struggles for environmental and social justice in Nigeria.
The extensive pollution caused by oil spills in Ogoniland is staggering. Between 1976 and 1991, an estimated 2,976 oil spills occurred, releasing about 2.1 million barrels of oil—nearly 40% of Shell’s global spills. One of the worst spills, in 1970, lasted for three weeks, leaving a lasting scar on the land and the people.
In response to these injustices, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) was formed, leading to the Ogoni Bill of Rights in 1990. This document demanded the protection of Ogoniland from further environmental destruction and called out both multinational oil companies and the Nigerian government for their role in what was termed “genocide.” Under the leadership of Ken Saro-Wiwa, MOSOP mobilized widespread resistance, leading to Shell’s exit from Ogoniland in 1993.
The Nigerian government’s response was brutal. The military cracked down on the movement, culminating in the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other MOSOP leaders in 1995 after a sham trial. Their deaths sent shockwaves around the world, highlighting the extent of state repression in the fight over oil resources. Since then, oil production in Ogoniland has largely remained on hold due to security concerns and community resistance.
In 2006, the Nigerian government commissioned the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to assess the extent of pollution in Ogoniland. The UNEP report, released in 2011, confirmed what the Ogoni people had long known—their land and water were severely contaminated, requiring urgent cleanup. The report recommended a comprehensive environmental restoration project, warning that the pollution was so severe that some communities were drinking water with benzene levels 900 times above WHO safety standards.
To implement the cleanup, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) was launched in 2012, and in 2016, the Nigerian government officially began the process. However, the progress has been painfully slow. Many Ogoni leaders and environmental activists have criticized the government for its lack of urgency and inadequate financial commitment to the cleanup.
Now, the Nigerian government is signaling a renewed interest in resuming oil production in Ogoniland. This has led to a division among Ogoni leaders—some see this as an opportunity for economic growth, while others insist that the cleanup must be completed before any discussion of oil production can take place.
President Bola Tinubu’s recent engagements with Ogoni leaders, including the establishment of the Federal University of Environment and Technology in Ogoni, have been welcomed as steps in the right direction. However, the militarization of the oil sector is raising new concerns. A recent media headline—”CDS Musa Rallies Stakeholders to Achieve Tinubu’s 2.5 mbpd”—suggests a push for increased oil production under military supervision. Given the history of repression and violence in Ogoniland, many fear that this could lead to a repeat of past abuses.
There are questions for the future though. As Nigeria prepares to re-enter Ogoniland for oil extraction, these critical questions remain unanswered: why is the government involving the military in securing oil production in Ogoniland? Are we witnessing a repeat of the same militarized approach that led to the tragedy of the 1990s? Can President Tinubu rebuild trust with the Ogoni people by prioritizing environmental restoration before oil extraction resumes?
The Ogoni struggle has persisted for decades, driven by a deep commitment to justice, environmental protection, and human rights. The next phase of this struggle will test whether the Nigerian government has learned from history—or whether it will once again sacrifice the Ogoni people for oil profits. Only time will tell how this chapter unfolds.
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Innocent Edemhanria is ANEEJ Programme Manager and writes from Benin City.
