Ogoni Community Protests Exclusion from Industrial Park Host List, Seeks Federal Intervention
The Taabaa community in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State has staged a protest over its exclusion from the list of host communities for the proposed Ogoni Industrial Park, despite having contributed land to the project. Community leaders are urgently calling on President Bola Tinubu, the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Rivers State Government, and security agencies to intervene and compel relevant authorities to recognize Taabaa as a legitimate host community.
Land Donation and Omission in Recognition
According to community representatives, Taabaa donated part of the 40 hectares of land that was officially handed over to the Federal Government through the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB). However, during the formal recognition process for host communities, Taabaa was conspicuously omitted, sparking outrage among its residents. The Ogoni Industrial Park is a key confidence-building measure agreed upon between the Federal Government and the Ogoni people via the Ogoni Dialogue Committee, aimed at facilitating the planned resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland.
Community Leaders Voice Discontent
Chief Pyagbara Prosper Gote-Nee-uwe, also known as Mene Asaa and serving as Secretary of the Barasi-Taabaa Council of Chiefs, Elders, Community Development Committee (CDC), and youths, described the exclusion as unacceptable. He revealed that approximately 54 plots of Taabaa land were included in the 40 hectares ceded to the Federal Government, noting that the community had previously raised concerns during the land survey phase. Gote-Nee-uwe stated that the Ogoni Dialogue Committee, led by Prof. Don Baridam and Archbishop Kattey, had assured Taabaa of recognition during the official handover.
"On August 21, 2025, we raised concerns and were invited by the Ogoni Dialogue Committee. We presented our case that part of Taabaa land was included in the survey. They told us not to worry and advised us to suspend any action, assuring us that we would be consulted and recognised during the official handover," he explained. Expressing surprise at the oversight, Gote-Nee-uwe reiterated the community's support for the project but insisted that their contribution must be acknowledged. "We are not against the project. It is one that will bring development to the area, but our sacrifice must be recognised. If we are not included as a host community, then the survey plan should be reviewed and our portion of land removed and returned to us," he emphasized.
Youth Leader Issues Warning
Adding to the chorus of discontent, Mr Godspower Mbaedee, the acting youth leader of Barasi-Taabaa, warned that the community would not accept the loss of its land without due recognition. He called on relevant authorities to either include Taabaa among the host communities or return its land, highlighting the potential for escalated tensions if the issue remains unresolved. The community's demands underscore a broader need for transparency and fairness in development projects affecting local populations.
The protest highlights ongoing challenges in land use and community inclusion in Nigeria's industrial initiatives, with Taabaa seeking immediate action to rectify what they perceive as a grave injustice.
