Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), has welcomed the federal government’s decision to oust Shell from the Ogoniland.
In a statement by MOSOP President Bari-ara Kpalap the federal government’s action is laudable as it finally responded to MOSOP’s 26 years campaign for Shell’s sack from Ogoniland.
MOSOP and its allies had over the past two decades called for the government to sack Shell from the territory over what they described as the oil major’s ‘inhuman corporate conduct’.
Since 1993, Shell had suspended oil production in the area.
According to the MOSOP President, “Shell, as of fact, has been responsible for the huge environmental and health quagmire in Ogoni occasioned by her inhuman corporate conduct for which it has shown no remorse and which heightened Ogoni protests against the firm.
Despite, the federal government’s pronouncement, the body says it is uncomfortable with the lack of disclosure of relevant information that will instill confidence in its action.
“MOSOP is uncomfortable with the choice of the proposed operator, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited (NPDC). Besides the fact that NPDC lacks even the minimum oil and gas extraction competences, its community relations’ record is dreadful and cannot be acceptable to the Ogoni people.
“Our investigations in Delta State communities where it is currently operating, has shown that her host communities have remained in protracted conflict with the company over rights. In fact, members of the communities say NPDC is worse than Shell.
“This is not the sort of situation Ogoni would like to experience hence we totally reject NPDC. And thus urge the federal
government to consider other firms in the industry with appropriate resources for the operatorship of OML 11 especially the Ogoni oil fields.
“We are also disturbed at the silence over the issue liability, which
includes the Ogoni clean-up exercise, litigations etc. We are aware of similar cases in some South American communities where the question ofliability was improperly addressed and induced serious conflict between the erstwhile operator, the new concern and the host community leading to avoidable litigations.
“Report available to MOSOP shows that the company to take the liabilities is a huge problem now between Shell and NPDC. If the present state of the Ogoni environmental restoration exercise is saddening, and it is one project our people would want implemented, how would it be achieved if the issue of liability is not resolved?,” the group asked.
Mr. Kpalap wondered what will happen to the Ogoniland cleanup exercise when the oil production resumes in the area saying that it has “created created the impression that the clean-up exercise was a mere bait for re-commencement of oil mining in Ogoni.”
According to him, “Insofar as we are concerned the 2 May, 2019 deadline for the resumption of oil exploitation in Ogoni is not feasible. As it stands, no engagement has been entered with the Ogoni people, who command the right to issuing the social license that would facilitate such re-entry. Since such consultation would take some time for all the issues involved to be resolved, we consider the time limit given as improperly thought through.
“MOSOP would thus suggest reconsideration by the Nigerian government of the proposed deadline to enable suitable
and adequate discussions that would enhance acceptable agreement.
The umbrella body of the Ogoni people therefore warned that “Ogoni will resist any attempt at re-entering Ogoni for oil extraction resumption without broad based and satisfactory discussions and agreement with our people,” he added.
