Following tensions arising from rumours of unconventional oil resumption activities by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) across Ogoni communities, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has sent a note of caution to the Federal Government against jumping due process as contained in the ongoing negotiations.
The message was transmitted in a communique presented by former MOSOP President, Legborsi Pyagbara, during an Ogoni Congress held on Saturday, June 13, 2026, where leaders and stakeholders reviewed developments in Ogoniland and the future of the Ogoni struggle.
The congress acknowledged ongoing engagements between the Federal Government and Ogoni stakeholders over plans to resume oil production in the area and welcomed the establishment of dialogue structures aimed at fostering understanding. However, participants expressed concern that discussions so far have been lopsided.
“The dialogue process has so far been largely focused on oil resumption without deliberate attention to the core issues in the Ogoni crisis, including political exclusion and marginalization. Without addressing these concerns, there cannot be sustainable oil resumption in Ogoniland,” the communique stated.
The MOSOP leaders, according to the communique, appreciates the Federal Government’s efforts at engagement but insists that any meaningful conversation on oil resumption must address the critical demands of the Ogoni people, including political inclusion, environmental justice, security, and community participation.
The congress discountenanced alleged ‘ongoing incursions’ into some Ogoni communities and called on the Federal Government to halt all oil-related activities currently taking place in parts of Ogoniland until proper consultations are concluded with host communities. It further maintained that the principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) should guide all decisions related to oil exploration in the region.
Having observed a recurrent trend of political exclusion of Ogoni people by sections of Nigeria’s political class, the congress specifically condemned it in its entirety and declared that political inclusion remains a central demand of the Ogoni people.
MOSOP also expressed concern over growing insecurity in parts of Ogoniland, particularly communal conflicts and attacks allegedly linked to armed herders. They urged affected communities to embrace peaceful coexistence while calling on security agencies to take decisive action to protect lives and property.
Moreover, the congress called on the Federal Government to adequately fund and strengthen the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), describing the agency as a product of decades of sacrifice and struggle by the Ogoni people rather than a favour from government.
Speaking during the congress, former MOSOP President, Legborsi Pyagbara, called on all stakeholders to support ongoing reconciliation efforts within the movement, stressing that a united Ogoni people would be better positioned to confront contemporary challenges and negotiate effectively with government and multinational interests.
Other speakers, including incumbent MOSOP President, Andah Wai-Ogosu, Prince Biira, and Chairman of the MOSOP Transition Council, Deebari Keeper, emphasized the need for peace, unity, political consciousness, and strategic mobilisation ahead of future elections.
The leaders, reaffirming MOSOP’s commitment to non-violent struggle, maintained that environmental remediation, political inclusion, security, economic justice, and respect for community rights must remain at the centre of any future agreement involving the Ogoni people and the Federal Government.