Port Harcourt, Nigeria – The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has issued a stern warning against any potential joint venture partnership between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and Sahara Energy, stating that such a move would be unacceptable to the Ogoni people and could lead to a major crisis.
MOSOP President, Fegalo Nsuke, made the declaration at the end of a meeting with the leadership of the Council of Ogoni Leaders of Thought (COLT) in Bori, Rivers State, over the weekend.
Nsuke emphasized that MOSOP rejects any attempt to transform the financial and technical services agreement (FTSA) between Sahara Energy and the West African Gas Limited (WAGL) into a joint venture operatorship, stressing that the Ogoni people will strongly resist any move by the NNPC to force Sahara Energy on them.
MOSOP has laid down conditions for a peaceful resolution of the Ogoni issue and is willing to make compromises on mutually beneficial terms. The organization has called on the government to halt Sahara Energy’s moves to enter into a joint venture agreement with NNPC over OML 11 without input and consideration from MOSOP and the Ogoni people.
Nsuke noted that MOSOP’s position is critical in discussions on oil production in Ogoni, given their role in stopping Shell’s operations in the past. He warned that any attempt to force Sahara Energy on the Ogoni people without consideration for their demands may lead to another phase of crisis.
MOSOP has proposed the operationalization of the Ogoni Development Authority (ODA) as a pathway to address the Ogoni problem and has urged the Nigerian government to give peace a chance.
This development comes after Sahara Energy’s previous attempt to acquire OML 11 through the National Assembly was blocked. MOSOP had rejected Sahara Energy’s FTSA with WAGL, citing a lack of transparency and due process.
