Ogoni Leaders Urge Transparency on Oil Exploration Amid Dialogue Process

Ogoni leaders have expressed concerns over the resumption of oil exploration activities in some parts of Ogoniland while the dialogue process is still ongoing.

Chief Lesi Maol, President of KAGOTE, stated that the Ogoni Dialogue Committee (ODC) was inaugurated by the Federal Government in January 2025 with the mandate to engage the Ogoni people in good faith towards achieving a lasting resolution of the issues surrounding oil production in Ogoniland.

Maol noted that the Ogoni people support the initiative and desire its success, but want the government to take note of individuals 'whose actions require urgent clarification and intervention to preserve the credibility of the dialogue process.'

Rev. Msgr. Pius Kii, a member of the ODC, stated that the resumption of oil activities must not precede the resolution of fundamental questions before Ogoni.