Dr Fabeke Douglas of the Ogoni Liberation Initiative (OLI) has provided details of the asset verification exercise, investment proposal, and compensation process undertaken in K-Dere Community and other parts of Ogoni, Rivers State.
Douglas disclosed this in Bori on September 14, 2026, saying the clarification became necessary following what he described as misinformation concerning his involvement in the process.
He said the Ogoni Liberation Movement had earlier instituted a compensation case against the Federal Government of Nigeria and Shell Petroleum Development Company, with the support of members of the organisation.
According to him, evidence gathered from several Ogoni communities was presented during the legal process to establish the extent of environmental damage allegedly caused by oil operations.
Douglas said he was subsequently invited by the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for a briefing on the case and was asked to mobilise communities in support of the process.
He explained that, following the establishment of a legal panel at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, he engaged technical consultants and visited the six kingdoms of Ogoni to document oil-related assets and environmental impacts.
He said the exercise involved live recordings, documentary production and engagements with community leaders, adding that judgment in the case was delivered on August 16, 2021.
Douglas said that following the judgment, he commenced a comprehensive asset verification exercise, described as a baseline assessment, to determine the extent of environmental damage and inventory assets and oil wells across Ogoni communities.
He said the exercise involved technical experts, consultants, local and international engineers and a media organisation, adding that heavy equipment was deployed to access and document various locations.
According to him, a 366-page report containing data from across Ogoni was subsequently submitted and certified by NNPCL.
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He said findings from K-Dere and some other communities informed a proposal for the construction of a gas plant and development of a new smart city in K-Dere.
Douglas said the company involved in the proposal conducted road measurements and developed designs for the proposed development.
He stressed that all personnel involved in the exercise were paid directly by the company, while survey plans and field activities were fully funded by the company.
He also maintained that community engagements were carried out to facilitate peaceful operations and insisted that no money was collected from members of K-Dere or any other community for investment purposes.
According to him, the proposal and agreement were signed by the community and forwarded to relevant stakeholders for verification.
Douglas said he later presented the documentation to the former Group Managing Director of NNPCL, adding that the company behind the proposal provided proof of funds and expressed readiness to finance 80 per cent of the project, while NNPCL was expected to contribute the remaining 20 per cent.
He said two options were subsequently presented: support for the investment proposal through the provision of necessary documentation, or payment of compensation to affected communities as earlier agreed with NNPCL management.
However, Douglas said he discontinued his efforts to advance the investment proposal after the former NNPCL GMD informed him that a prominent K-Dere leader was opposed to the project.
He added that he thereafter continued to advocate for the payment of compensation to the affected people.
“ No funds were solicited or collected from any member of K-Dere Community or any other community for investment purposes,” Douglas said.
He added that he had documentary evidence and witnesses capable of providing further clarification on the process.
Douglas also alleged that he had received threats to his life and said he would submit his full report and supporting evidence to relevant security agencies and international organisations.
He reaffirmed his commitment to what he described as truth, justice and the sustainable development of Ogoni.
