The (NNPCL) Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has declared that its long-anticipated re-entry into Ogoniland will be rooted in justice, reconciliation, and inclusive development, describing the move as a landmark in the nation’s oil and gas sector.
Speaking in Abuja on Friday, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Bashir Ojulari, said the renewed effort goes beyond extracting crude resources. He emphasized that it represents a deliberate attempt to confront Nigeria’s troubled past in Ogoniland, heal longstanding wounds, and build a new foundation of trust with the Ogoni people.
“The re-entry into Ogoniland is not just about oil and gas. It is about justice, healing, and charting a new future for our nation,” Ojulari said in a statement signed by NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh.
According to him, the company has already initiated trust-building measures, including road construction, infrastructure upgrades, and economic empowerment projects. He stressed that the fresh approach prioritizes dialogue, equity, and sustainability over production volumes, with the ultimate goal of turning Ogoniland into “a beacon of reconciliation, renewal, and sustainable progress.”
The announcement is being widely hailed as one of the most visible demonstrations of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Federal officials have framed the re-entry as proof that resource development can align with environmental responsibility and inclusive nation-building.
Ojulari described the breakthrough as both a test and an opportunity for Nigeria, insisting that oil wealth must translate into tangible prosperity for host communities. He commended the role of National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who convened the Presidential Committee that united divergent stakeholders. The committee, chaired by Professor Don Baridam, was credited with building consensus through transparent and inclusive engagement.
“The lesson is that this journey cannot be driven solely by production volumes. It must be anchored on justice, equity, sustainability, and most importantly, collaboration with the very people whose land bears this wealth,” Ojulari added.
Ribadu, in his remarks, said the development proved that sustainable progress is possible when stakeholders collaborate in good faith. Baridam also thanked President Tinubu for his commitment to dialogue, inclusivity, and reconciliation.
The announcement marks nearly three decades since oil production was halted in Ogoniland following violent clashes, environmental damage, and fierce protests led by the late Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP). The Ogoni struggle drew global attention to the environmental and social costs of Nigeria’s oil industry.
Operations were suspended in the 1990s after Shell’s withdrawal, leaving vast oil reserves untapped but sparking decades of disputes, international campaigns, and litigation. Successive governments struggled to rebuild trust, while the Ogoni cleanup project launched in 2016 faced criticism for its slow progress.
Ojulari stressed that Nigeria’s new approach to Ogoni oil development is not only a domestic milestone but also a global example of reconciling energy security with community aspirations and environmental protection.
“This is more than a Nigerian story. It is a classic example of how a resource-rich nation can reconcile energy security with community benefit,” he said, adding that progress will now be defined by genuine partnership between government, industry, and the people.
