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Tinubu Orders Restoration of Oil Production in Ogoni, Directs NSA to Commence Stakeholder Engagement
….Ogoni Four’ get national honours
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to immediately commence engagements with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), Ogoni communities in Rivers State, and other stakeholders for the resumption of oil production.
Tinubu gave the order while receiving the report of the Presidential Committee on the Ogoni Consultations, chaired by former Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Don Baridam, at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. The delegation was led by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Oil exploration in Ogoniland was halted in 1993 following widespread protests by the indigenes against environmental degradation.
The incident led to the execution of a writer/activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and eight others known as the Ogoni Nine in 1995 by the then-military regime of Gen. Sani Abacha.
During the event, President Tinubu praised the committee for what he described as “dedication and wisdom” in guiding a delicate process, and urged the Ogoni to embrace reconciliation and dialogue as the only path to justice and development.
He conferred posthumous national honours of Commander of the Order of Niger (CON) on four Ogoni leaders who died earlier in the struggle for environmental justice. They were called ‘Ogoni Four.’
A member of the delegation Sen. Magnus Abe described the CON award to the Ogoni Four as sealing the peace process because the Ogoni Nine including the late environmental activist Ken Sarowiwa, ordered killed by a former head of state, the late Gen. Sani Abacha, had earlier been honoured by President Tinubu.
The President commended the committee members for ‘’the wisdom with which they guided’’ the process.
Tinubu also thanked Ogoni people for embracing dialogue and reconciliation as the surest path to justice and development.”
Acknowledging the decades of struggle, he added: “We are not as a government taking lightly the years of pain endured in Ogoniland. The Federal Government truly acknowledges the long suffering of Ogoni people, and today we declare with conviction that hope is here and is back with us.
“We have to restart oil production now. Dead assets are not valuable to the community, the country and the people. The further we leave it and the longer we procrastinate, the greater the losses.”
He also directed the Minister of Environment to work with the NSA to integrate environmental remediation and community programmes into a broader dialogue and implementation process.
will renew oil production, and we must ensure efficient functionality as an instrument of action,” he added.
To Ogoni leaders and their communities, President Tinubu had a simple advice for them: close ranks and move forward.
“I urge Ogoni people across communities and generations to close ranks and put this dark chapter behind us. This reconciliation is not an erasure of history; it is the commitment to write the next chapter together. Government will deploy every resource to support Ogoni people in the march towards shared prosperity,” he said.
‘Tinubu has addressed Nigeria’s long-standing problems’
Tinubu receives Ogoni dialogue report, orders immediate engagement for oil resumption
Conferring the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on the ‘’Ogoni Four’’ — Chief Edward Kobani, Chief Albert Bade, Chief Samuel Orage and Chief Theophilus Orage, the President prayed that their memories “continue to inspire unity and purpose among Nigerians.”
NSA Ribadu described the process as transformational, aimed at restoring hope and rebuilding trust after years of neglect and conflict.
He said an inter-agency task force, including NNPC Ltd, ministries, and the Ogoni Dialogue Committee, would oversee implementation of the report.
“Peace is already being restored, and Nigerians will soon see the benefits, not just in Ogoniland, but across the Niger Delta and beyond,” Ribadu said.
Governor Fubara hailed the renewed seriousness of the Federal Government.
“Finally, there is every sign that this government is serious about resolving these issues, and I think we need to give them all the necessary opportunity and time to ensure this problem is resolved once and for all,” he said, pledging his full cooperation.
The committee chairman, Don Baridam, said the report reflected the collective will of Ogoni people. He highlighted demands for structured participation in oil production, accelerated clean-up of Ogoni land and sustainable development as some of the recommendations of the committee.
Baridam described the report as “a blueprint for the future.”
Prominent activist and former President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Ledum Mitee, told reporters that the meeting signalled a “new dawn” for Ogoni people.
“We are leaving here with hope that something practical is being done and that our matters have received a hearing at the highest level,” Mitee said.
He noted that progress had already begun, including targeted employment and plans for a University of Environmental Technology and an industrial park.
Former Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment and son of the late Edward Kobani, one of the Ogoni Four, Kenneth Kobani, was emotional.
“What the President has done today has shown that Nigeria can actually be a better place. No matter how long it takes, Ogoni and Nigeria are on the right path,” he said.
Kobani thanked Tinubu and Ribadu for recognising the sacrifices of his father and others.
Security presence surged around the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday as operatives from multiple agencies were deployed ahead of the arraignment of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over alleged corruption-related offences.
By about 7:00 a.m., heavily armed personnel of the Department of State Services, Nigeria Police Force, Mobile Police Force, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps had taken positions at strategic locations leading to the court complex situated within the old Nigerian Defence Academy area.
Access roads to the venue witnessed restrictions, forcing vehicles into a single lane from the Ungwan Sarki axis through Kawo and triggering early morning gridlock.
The heavy security followed a prior notice by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission that it would arraign El-Rufai on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, before the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna.
In a statement issued by its Head of Media and Public Communications, John Odey, the commission said the former governor would be docked alongside one Joel Adoga in suit number FHC/KD/73/2026.
The agency explained that the charges against the defendants include alleged conversion, unlawful possession of public property, and money laundering.
“The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission is set to arraign the former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i, and one Joel Adoga at the Federal High Court of Nigeria in the Kaduna Judicial Division on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. The charges range from conversion of and possession of public property to money laundering,” the statement read.
It further disclosed that another case, marked KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26, had been instituted against El-Rufai and one Amadu Sule before a Kaduna State High Court.
According to the commission, the state charges border on abuse of office, fraud, intent to commit fraud, and conferring undue advantage.
“Similarly, another charge against Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i and one Amadu Sule has been filed before a Kaduna State High Court in the Kaduna Judicial Division. The charges range from abuse of office and fraud to intent to commit fraud and conferring undue advantage, among others,” the statement added.
The ICPC said both cases were filed on March 18, 2026, adding that a date for arraignment in the state court would be announced later.
It also insisted that El-Rufai had been properly served, stressing its adherence to due process and the rule of law.
The development came amid growing pressure from stakeholders, including the African Democratic Congress, which called for his immediate release or arraignment, describing his continued detention without formal charges as unconstitutional.
In the same vein, the Muslim Rights Concern criticised his prolonged detention, while members of his family also alleged a breach of his fundamental rights.
El-Rufai was first arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on February 16, 2026, granted bail two days later, and subsequently re-arrested by the ICPC.
He has remained in the custody of the anti-graft agency since then, pending his arraignment.
Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has extended warm felicitations to Muslims in Nigeria and across the globe on the joyous occasion of Eid-el-Fitr.
In a statement to mark the end of Ramadan, Araraume highlighted the significance of the month long period of spiritual reflection, fasting, and devotion. “As Muslims gather with loved ones to share in the festivities, I join in the cheer, wishing everyone a blessed and peaceful Eid,” he said.
The Senator expressed profound appreciation to Muslim Nigerians for their contributions to the nation’s growth, describing their faith, resilience, and patriotism as beacons of hope. “Your unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s progress is truly commendable,” he stated.
As the country navigates its current challenges, Araraume called for unity, understanding, and collective effort. “Let us embrace the spirit of Eid, forgiveness, generosity, and kindness, to build a brighter future for ourselves and generations to come,” he urged.
Araraume also extended solidarity to President Bola Tinubu, a distinguished Muslim and the leader of APC, praising his visionary leadership and dedication to nation building. “President Tinubu’s commitment to serving Nigeria has been exemplary, and we assure him of our continued support,” he said.
Reaffirming the APC’s commitment to national prosperity, Araraume emphasized that the values of compassion, unity, and progress embodied by Eid align deeply with the party’s ethos. “As we mark this occasion, we reaffirm our dedication to creating a Nigeria where faith and ethnic background are not barriers to success,” he concluded.
President Bola Tinubu is currently meeting with United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a high-level bilateral engagement aimed at strengthening ties between Nigeria and Britain.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Monday, said the meeting will culminate in the signing of various Memoranda of Understanding and agreements, including those on trade, investment, defence, and cultural cooperation.
The statement said the meeting reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to deepening bilateral relations, attracting foreign investment, and modernising key infrastructure to support economic growth.
It added that a major highlight of the visit was the signing of a £746 million financing agreement between UK Export Finance, the Nigerian Ports Authority, and the Federal Ministry of Finance.
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The statement said the deal will fund the refurbishment of two key maritime infrastructures — the Lagos Port Complex (Apapa Quays) and the Tin Can Island Port Complex.
The President and the First Lady had earlier been the guests of their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle.
Tinubu was accompanied by a high-profile delegation, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi; Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed; and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu.
Other members of the delegation include Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani; Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa; National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu; and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.
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