A coalition of youth bodies in Ogoni, under the auspices of the Joint Representatives Council (JRC) of Ogoni Youths Groups, has concluded a press conference to address myriads of concerns bordering on critical issues confronting various sections of the region in recent times.
The press conference which took place in Bori, the traditional headquarters of the Ogoni people, on Thursday, July 30, 2026, was convened by the leadership of the National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) and spearheaded by its President, Barinuazor Emmanuel.
In a statement delivered by its President, the group stated explicitly the purpose of the conference and why it was necessary at the time, noting that the role of the youths of Ogoni is pivotal to the successful achievement of the bigger Ogoni dream.
“This press briefing has become necessary to address certain sensitive issues which have come to the fore, on which we, the youths of Ogoniland as critical stakeholders, need to make our position and stand known, even as we plan towards an Ogoni Youth General Assembly (TGA) to be held in the coming days,” the statement began.
The statement subsequently highlighted a 5-point concern, including controversies surrounding youths leadership, resumption of oil exploration, rising trend of insecurity in Khana LGA, HYPREP handling, and a proposed general youth assembly.
It stated, regarding the constitution of youth leadership, that the matter is sensitive, requiring urgent, careful but intentional clarifications, and noting that the National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) remains the apex youth body in Ogoniland.
“Not withstanding, to accommodate and harmonize other youth bodies that were formed after NYCOP, the General Representatives Council (JRC) was founded in December 2023 to serve as a representative platform for Ogoni youth bodies to work hand-in-glove with NYCOP…,” Emmanuel stated.
He warned individuals who still continue to put their own selfish interests over the collective interest of Ogoni youths to exercise restraint, reiterating that only the JRC as led by NYCOP has the social license to engage for and on behalf of Ogoni youths, both at home and abroad.
On oil resumption, the statement upheld the Bori Declaration of May 12, 2024, which the JRC and King Solomon Ndigbara had embarked on, calling for oil resumption, the result of which has snowballed into the creation of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee (ODC) by the Federal Government.
It disclosed the intention of NYCOP to constitute an Ogoni Youths Dialogue Committee to represent the interest of the youths in the entire oil resumption process.
The youth coalition, bearing its mind on the issue of insecurity, called on security agencies community leaders and elected political officers to collaborate in an effort aimed at tackling the security challenges facing the area.
“The rising insecurity in Ogoniland, being made manifest in communal crisis and targeted killings, is cause for concern and is condemned by the JRC. We believe that for progress to be made, the environment must be conducive enough to foster it,” it emphasized.
While addressing concerns in HYPREP, the JRC noted that though it appreciates the Federal Government’s appointment of Emmanuel Deeyah as Chairman, Board of Trustees, it frowned at what it describes as the recent smear campaigns targeted at removing the project coordinator, Nenibarini Zabbey, from office and installing someone else in order to achieve selfish political ends to the detriment of the Ogoni people.
Finally, the NYCOP leadership disclosed its intention to organize a general assembly for all members of various youth groups in Ogoniland, tagged ‘Ogoni Youths General Assembly’, aimed at harmonizing the youth bloc and to deliberate on the myriads of issues raised above.