Reports indicate that President Bola Tinubu is hosting a meeting with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the leaders of Ogoniland at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Governor Fubara and Senator Lee Maeba arrived at the Villa along with Senators Magnus Abe, Olaka Nwogu, Chief Victor Giadom, Chief Kenneth Kobani, Monsignor Pius Kii, Leedom Mitee, Senators Bennett Birabi Barry. Mpigi and Joe Poroma.

Also present are the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, the Minister of Environment Balarabe Abba, the Minister of Information and National Orientation Idris Mohammed, the Minister of Regional Development Abubakar Momoh and the National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

Details of the meeting were not made known, however, they are expected to discuss the Ogoni clean-up and the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland.

It was reported that a coalition of civil society organisations had demanded an allocation of $1 trillion from the Federal Government for the cleanup of the Niger Delta and compensation for the loss of livelihoods, before the resumption of crude oil production in Ogoniland.

The demands were tabled in a statement signed by the organisations including Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), and Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF). They expressed concerns over the Nigerian government’s reported plans to resume oil production in the community.

The group described the move as a disregard for environmental justice. The statement highlighted the historical environmental degradation caused by oil activities in Ogoniland, documented in the 2011 UNEP report, which revealed widespread pollution of land, water, and air.

The group expressed disappointment that the government has yet to fully implement the UNEP recommendations or prioritize the cleanup of the region.