The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has appealed to Ogoni youths to support the ongoing dialogue with the Federal Government aimed at resolving long-standing issues surrounding oil resumption in the Ogoni area.
MOSOP President, Fegalo Nsuke, made the appeal during a Youth Dialogue on Natural Resources Management and the Future of Ogoni Youths held on Saturday, December 6, 2025, in Port Harcourt.
Nsuke said it had become necessary for Ogoni people to move beyond protests and take advantage of the current negotiation process, insisting that development cannot be achieved through constant opposition to oil proposals.
According to him, although historical grievances are justified, sustaining opposition would keep Ogoni in a continuous state of underdevelopment.
“There is an ongoing dialogue process and we need to encourage it to see what benefits we can secure. Ogoni cannot remain in a dead state because of what happened in the past. We need to defeat our past and move forward,” he said.
He also described leadership challenges as one of Ogoni’s major problems and urged youths to key into the process for a collective future.
In a presentation, the President of Ogoni Brain Trust Foundation (OGBT), Dr. Terry Bagia, urged stakeholders to prioritise the collective interest of Ogoni rather than personal gains.
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“This is a generational opportunity and may not come again. Dialogue must be driven by vision for the unborn generation, not stomach infrastructure,” Bagia said.
Some youth and women participants expressed readiness for oil resumption, saying enlightenment over the years had changed perceptions and improved understanding of the process.
They expressed hope that renewed negotiations would lead to development and improved living conditions in Ogoni communities.
At the end of the meeting, a seven-point communique was issued by the National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP). The communique called for:
unbundling of OML 11 into four to six separate oil blocks for Ogoni Ogoni participation through a special purpose vehicle
continuation of dialogue to resolve the long-standing crisis
concession of one oil block for youth development
stoppage of alleged clandestine operations in Tai LGA
exclusion of Ogoni blocks from ongoing licence bids pending dialogue and caution against individuals pursuing selfish interests while commending the goodwill of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The dialogue attracted youth leaders, community representatives and resource persons across Ogoni communities.
