A coalition of Civil Society Organisations outlined fresh conditions the Federal Government of Nigeria must meet before oil exploration can resume in Ogoniland, in an event held on Thursday, March 5, 2026, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The demands were made during a one‑day community‑led workshop and solidarity peace walk on the planned resumption of oil production in Ogoni, tagged “Project Ogonize.” The event was organised by Tech4Rural in collaboration with the Youth and Environmental Advocacy Centre.
Among the conditions, the CSOs urged the government to accept the Ogoni Bill of Rights, fully implement the United Nations Environment Programme report on oil pollution in the area, and exonerate late environmentalist and playwright Ken Saro‑Wiwa and eight other activists executed in 1995. They also called for the release of the Ken Saro‑Wiwa Memorial Bus allegedly seized by the Federal Government.
Participants carried placards with messages such as “Restore Ogoni first before oil resumption,” “Stop oil pollution,” “Pollution is not development,” and “No consent, no oil.”
CSOs emphasised that environmental degradation, human rights violations and unresolved grievances from the Ogoni crisis must be addressed before any attempt to restart oil operations in the area.
The event also featured calls for people‑centred industrial policies, greater support for small and medium enterprises, and increased private sector participation to ensure sustainable job creation for youths in oil communities.
