The Ogoni Liberation Initiative has called on the Ogoni Dialogue Committee to provide clear answers on the $300 million fund, creation of Bori State and completion of the Ogoni environmental clean-up before signing any agreement on oil resumption in Ogoniland.
President and CEO of the organisation, Dr Fabeke Douglas, made the demand in a letter dated September 12, 2026, addressed to the Chairman of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee, Bori and copied to the President of the KAGOTE.
Douglas also raised concerns over ongoing oil-related activities in Tai Local Government Area, alleging discrepancies between earlier verification data on Ogoni oil fields and the current arrangement under the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
According to him, operations are ongoing around Ledor and Oloko communities in Tai, including a 2km access road linking State School 1, Afam/Oloko Community Junction, the NNPCL/NEPL/NPDC campsite, Ledor Junction and the gas plant site.
He further alleged that a new gas plant was under construction at the location.
Douglas said the current arrangement had reduced the number of oil fields recognised within Ogoni to 15, while some areas, including oil wells around Okoloma, had allegedly been classified as non-Ogoni oil fields under PML 94.
He said Tai Local Government Area was presently captured with two oil fields, Korokoro PML 93 and Tai PML 100, while Gokana was captured with Bomu PML 87 and Bodo PML 85.
The Ogoni Liberation Initiative president recalled that when he led the NNPCL Verification Team to Ogoni under international supervision, the data gathered indicated an increase in the number of oil fields.
He said his recommendations included recognising K-Dere as a separate oil field, granting Bera and adjoining communities separate oil field status and properly capturing oil fields in Babbe, Kpean and Nyo-Khana.
Douglas, however, alleged that some areas captured in the submitted verification report were omitted from the current documentation, including the Bangha Area of Dae 1 and 2 and the Lueku Area.
He also raised concern over the classification of oil fields around Ogoni boundary communities as non-Ogoni.
On the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for oil resumption, Douglas questioned the emphasis on employment opportunities, establishment of the Federal University of Environmental Technology, improvement of healthcare facilities and development of an Ogoni Industrial Park as confidence-building measures.
He described the commendation reportedly given to NNPCL over the implementation of some of the measures as “worrisome and very confusing,” insisting that other major demands contained in the Dialogue Committee’s report must also be addressed.
“Where are we on these three demands?” Douglas asked, referring to the creation of Bori State, clarification and accountability regarding the $300 million and completion of the Ogoni environmental clean-up.
He urged the Dialogue Committee to critically evaluate ongoing operations and negotiations and ensure that all activities relating to oil resumption were transparent and properly communicated to the Ogoni people.
Douglas further advised the committee against hastily signing an agreement, warning that proceeding without resolving the alleged discrepancies could violate the rights and expectations of the Ogoni people and trigger further agitation.
He specifically called for the alleged omission of Tai Local Government Area from the committee’s address to the Federal Government to be corrected, saying ongoing operations in Tai must receive adequate attention alongside developments in Eleme.
He said the inquiries were not borne out of disrespect but were necessary to enable stakeholders to provide balanced and accurate information to local and international audiences.
Douglas stressed that the committee’s operations must align with international best practices and local expectations to ensure legitimacy, peace and sustainable development in Ogoniland.
