- Ogoni women vow to protest nude against oil resumption.
- They demand environmental cleanup and justice.
- Government urged to address past grievances before extraction resumes.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Women from the Ogoni ethnic group in Rivers State have vowed to stage a nude protest if the Federal Government proceeds with plans to resume oil extraction in their region without addressing key concerns.
Operating under the umbrella of the Ogoni Women Coalition for Sustainable Environment, the women made their position clear in a joint statement signed by 15 women-led organizations, including Mba Okase Initiative, Eedee Ladies of Tai, De Voice of Eleme Women Association, and League of Queens International.
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Dr. Patience Osaroejiji, leader of Mba Okase Initiative, warned that Ogoni women would march the streets unclothed if the government forces oil activities to resume without resolving the long-standing issues that halted operations in the 1990s.
“If the government disregards our position and proceeds with oil exploration, we, the women of Ogoni, will come out en masse and protest naked until the world hears us,” she declared.
She also decried the exclusion of Ogoni women from recent consultations, asserting that their voices have been ignored in discussions that directly impact their land and well-being.
Lezina Pat Ntetep, Coordinator of Eedee Ladies of Tai, highlighted that Ogoni women have suffered decades of environmental devastation due to oil exploration. She emphasized that unresolved issues in the Ogoni Bill of Rights must be addressed before operations can resume.
“It is disturbing that while the government rushes to restart oil extraction, the key concerns that led to its suspension remain unresolved. Families who lost their loved ones, lands, and means of survival have yet to receive justice,” Ntetep said.
The coalition also criticized the failure to complete the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) cleanup of pollution caused by decades of oil spills, stating that it would be irresponsible to proceed with new oil operations before restoring the environment.
In their statement, the women called on the Federal Government to:
- Halt all plans for oil resumption in Ogoniland.
- Complete the UNEP cleanup before considering new extraction.
- Dismantle outdated oil infrastructure to prevent further damage.
- Provide compensation and restore lost livelihoods.
- Ensure justice for victims of past violence and repression.
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“Instead of rushing to extract more oil, the government should focus on ecological restoration, replacing lost means of survival, and securing justice for the Ogoni people,” Ntetep added.
The women reaffirmed their commitment to resisting any attempt to restart oil extraction in their communities unless their demands are met, promising to escalate their protests if necessary.
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