President Bola Tinubu, alongside the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, held a closed-door meeting on Tuesday with a delegation of Ogoni leaders led by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
The meeting, held at the Presidential Villa, included key government officials such as the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; NNPCL Group CEO, Mele Kyari; and the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, among others.
The meeting followed demands by a coalition of civil society organisations for a $1 trillion allocation from the Federal Government to clean up the Niger Delta and compensate for lost livelihoods before resuming crude oil production in Ogoniland.
Amid the ongoing political rift between Wike and Fubara, President Tinubu directed the National Security Adviser to coordinate negotiations with stakeholders in Ogoniland, pledging his administration’s commitment to fostering peace, justice, and sustainable development in the region.
Tinubu Calls for Unity and Environmental Restoration in Ogoniland
During the meeting, President Tinubu urged the Ogoni people to prioritize unity and reconciliation, emphasizing the need to move beyond historical grievances to achieve progress.
He called on the leaders to work collaboratively toward peace, development, and environmental restoration in the oil-rich Niger Delta area.
“We cannot in any way rewrite history, but we can correct some anomalies of the past going forward,” Tinubu said, according to a statement by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga.
“We must work together with mutual trust. Go back home, do more consultations, and embrace others. We must make this trip worthwhile by bringing peace, development, and a clean environment back to Ogoniland.”
The President’s call for reconciliation comes amid ongoing efforts to resume oil production in Ogoniland, with the Federal Government prioritizing peace and justice as prerequisites for sustainable development in the region.