Tinubu honours Ogoni four, prepares for resumption of oil production
By Jeffrey Agbo
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday posthumously conferred the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on the late Ogoni leaders Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Theophilus Orage, and Samuel Orage.
The honours were bestowed during the presentation of the Ogoni Consultations Committee report at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Calling for reconciliation and unity after decades of conflict, the President said: “May their memories continue to inspire unity, courage and purpose among us. I urge the Ogoni people across classes, communities and generations to close ranks, put this dark chapter behind us and move forward as a united community with one voice.”
Tinubu pledged his administration’s support for peace, environmental cleanup, and economic revival in Ogoniland, while confirming that plans are underway to restart oil production in the area.
He said: “I am encouraged by the overwhelming consensus of the Ogoni communities to welcome the resumption of oil production. The government will deploy every resource to support your people in this march towards shared prosperity.”
The President noted that the previous administration had in 2022 handed operatorship of the Ogoni oil field to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and partners, and assured that his government would build on that decision.
He directed the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to open talks with Ogoni communities, NNPCL, and other stakeholders to finalise modalities for resuming operations. The Minister of Environment was also tasked with integrating pollution remediation into ongoing engagement with the people.
Presenting his report earlier, Ribadu said the consultations included all four Ogoni zones and the diaspora, capturing demands for greater participation in oil production, accelerated cleanup, and sustainable development.
Committee chair, Prof. Don Baridam, said the findings reflect the collective will of the Ogoni people and should serve as a blueprint for implementation through an inter-agency taskforce.
Speaking to journalists after the event, Ribadu reaffirmed Tinubu’s commitment to peace and development in the Niger Delta.
He said: “Peace is being restored already, and Nigerians will soon see the benefits, not just in Ogoniland, but across the Niger Delta and beyond.”
Oil exploration in Ogoniland has been halted since 1993 following mass protests over environmental degradation, which culminated in the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other activists in 1995.
 on the late Ogoni){kind=link}