Nigeria’s crude oil production and revenue face significant threats as youth leaders from Ogoni, Rivers State, have issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Federal Government.
This ultimatum, set to expire on Monday, demands the reinstatement of the recently sacked Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey.
The presidency announced a leadership change at HYPREP on Saturday, replacing Prof. Zabbey, an Ogoni native, with Dr. Olufemi Adekanbi.
In response, several Ogoni groups have voiced their dissatisfaction and threatened to cripple all oil activities in the region if the federal government does not comply with their demand.
These groups include the National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP), Ogoni Youths Federation, Ogoni Students Association Worldwide, and the Association of Ogoni Martyrs.
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These youth leaders argue that Ogoni has qualified individuals capable of managing the project, which was initiated through the efforts and sacrifices of the Ogoni people, independent of federal assistance.
They insist that Prof. Zabbey, who they believe was performing exceptionally well, should be reinstated. Failure to do so, they warn, will result in the shutdown of all project sites.
Brinuazor Emmanuel, NYCOP President, and Daniel Karakpon, National President of Ogoni Students Worldwide, have publicly stated their commitment to resist the resumption of Dr. Olufemi Adekanbi, the newly appointed HYPREP Project Coordinator, who is set to officially start on Monday, July 15, following his appointment on Saturday.
In anticipation of potential unrest, officers of the Rivers State police command have barricaded the area around Stadium Road, Port Harcourt, where the HYPREP office is located.
This ultimatum comes amid a broader crisis in Nigeria’s oil sector. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) recently declared a state of emergency on crude oil production.
The country’s oil production has been in decline for several years, failing to meet its Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) production quota of 1.5 million barrels per day. Mele Kyari, CEO of NNPCL, has attributed this decline to pipeline vandalism and oil theft.
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According to OPEC’s Monthly Oil Market Report for July, Nigeria’s oil production for June was 1.276 million barrels per day (bpd), down from 1.28 million bpd in April and 1.25 million bpd in May.
This decline in production significantly impacts Nigeria’s economy, as crude oil exports account for about 80 percent of the federal government’s revenue.
The ongoing conflict in Ogoni, if not resolved promptly, could exacerbate these challenges, further threatening Nigeria’s oil production and economic stability.