Oil Production To Resume In Ogoniland After Over 30 Years — Ribadu

National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu announced that oil production will soon resume in Ogoniland, more than 30 years after drilling was halted. He made the announcement on Thursday at the APC national summit in Abuja.

Ribadu noted this achievement under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, reporting that Nigeria’s oil production averaged 1.8 million barrels per day in 2025.

He highlighted progress in reducing oil theft and vandalism, with a 47 percent drop in incidents. Security forces have dismantled 1,978 illegal refineries, destroyed 3,849 dugout pits, and 3,773 illegal cooking ovens.

Ribadu credited “Operation Delta Safe,” a joint effort by Nigeria’s security agencies, for improving security in oil-producing areas.

The plan to resume oil production in Ogoniland was first announced by President Tinubu earlier this year. The Ogoni dialogue committee recently completed consultations and will soon submit its report to the federal government.

Oil operations in Ogoniland stopped in 1993 due to environmental damage, health risks, and community opposition. Between 1976 and 1991, nearly 3,000 spills released over two million barrels of oil. A 2017 UNEP report showed ongoing pollution exposure in the area despite the halt.

In 2019, Shell confirmed a new oil spill in Ebubu, Eleme LGA, highlighting continued environmental risks.

While resuming production offers economic hope, concerns remain over environmental protection and community involvement in the historically marginalized region.