Oil Resumption Agreement Must Benefit Ogonis and Be Enforceable, KAGOTE Insists

The leadership of KAGOTE, the apex socio-cultural organisation representing the Ogoni people, has called on the Federal Government to ensure that any agreement on the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland is comprehensive, enforceable and beneficial to the community.

The organisation said the proposed memorandum of understanding (MoU) must have the confidence and support of the Ogoni people while protecting the interests of future generations.

KAGOTE President, Chief Lesi Maol, made the position known on Tuesday during the organisation’s remembrance of the Ogoni Nine in Port Harcourt.

Maol said the agreement should become a historic document whose significance could stand alongside the Ogoni Bill of Rights. He argued that its value should be measured by its contents, fairness, enforceability and the benefits it delivers, rather than the speed of negotiations or the prominence of those signing it.

“We must move beyond promises that are difficult to measure and commitments that future generations may struggle to enforce. Let us negotiate an agreement that will outlive its signatories, survive changes in leadership and remain beneficial to Ogoniland long after those of us gathered here today have departed,” he said.

Although he acknowledged progress in discussions with the Federal Government, Maol stressed that the credibility of the negotiation process was just as important as its final outcome. He said confidence-building measures proposed by the government should be substantially implemented, with visible and verifiable results, before a final agreement is reached.

To strengthen community participation, he called for transparent and inclusive congresses across the four Ogoni local government areas: Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme. He said the meetings should allow traditional institutions, women, youths, professionals and other recognised stakeholders to contribute to the community’s negotiating position.

Maol also proposed a representative negotiating team supported by independent legal, environmental, technical and financial experts. He said the team should work with a clear mandate from the congresses to ensure that any agreement reflects the genuine expectations of the Ogoni people.

He maintained that the position was not an expression of hostility towards the Federal Government, the Ogoni Dialogue Committee or any individual, but an effort to protect the community’s long-term interests. “We believe that a little more patience today can prevent many years of disagreement tomorrow,” he said.

The KAGOTE president further urged that the proposed Field Development Plan of any prospective oil operator be made available to the Ogoni people through appropriate channels before operations begin. He said the disclosure should allow independent technical assessment and informed community engagement, covering environmental and social impact assessments, remediation safeguards, emergency response plans, decommissioning obligations and community development commitments, subject to legitimate legal and commercial confidentiality requirements.

On environmental protection, Maol warned that renewed oil activities must not disrupt ongoing remediation efforts or expose Ogoniland to further ecological damage. He called for stronger coordination among regulatory agencies, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), host communities and prospective operators to ensure that environmental restoration and public health protection remain central to any development.

He also proposed an Ogoni Development Partnership Forum to bring stakeholders together to identify priority projects, coordinate voluntary contributions, promote partnerships and monitor progress. According to him, the platform would help ensure that any eventual agreement produces measurable improvements in the lives of the Ogoni people.