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Gov. Fubara Backs Tinubu’s Ogoni Reset, Hosts NSA Ribadu on Niger Delta Progress
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his administration’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed vision for the Niger Delta, declaring that the long-standing Ogoni crisis is finally giving way to visible progress in infrastructure, employment, and environmental remediation.
Governor Fubara made this known on Monday, December 22, 2025, while hosting a high-powered federal delegation led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, during a courtesy visit to Government House, Port Harcourt.
The delegation included the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi; the Minister of Environment, Hon. Balarabe Abbas Lawal; and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari.
The Governor commended President Tinubu for demonstrating the political will to confront issues that had lingered unresolved for more than three decades, describing the President’s intervention as a turning point for Rivers State and the Niger Delta.
“Thanking Mr President is the first thing that everyone who truly loves this state should do. For over 30 years, one particular issue has always been a recurring problem. I thank him for the boldness, determination, and toughness to say, ‘let us start from somewhere,’” Fubara said.
He noted that renewed engagement with the Ogoni people is already yielding tangible results, particularly in employment, as more Ogoni indigenes are being absorbed into the NNPCL under a more secure and trust-based framework.
“Today, we have more men and women of Ogoni extraction already employed in NNPCL. Previously, we were perceived as a threat, but that narrative is changing,” he added.
On infrastructure, Governor Fubara highlighted improvements on major federal roads, especially the East-West Road, noting that sections previously plagued by severe gridlock are now motorable.
In the education sector, the Governor announced that the Federal University of Environment has commenced its admissions process, describing it as part of confidence-building initiatives that also include the establishment of new hospitals and an industrial park.
Governor Fubara also appealed to youths in oil-bearing communities to allow access for oil spill repairs, warning that obstruction only worsens environmental degradation.
“If there are spillages and operators need to repair them, we should allow access. Preventing repairs only takes us back to square one,” he said.
In his response, NSA Nuhu Ribadu conveyed President Tinubu’s appreciation for the cooperation of the Rivers State Government, attributing the relative peace in the state to sustained collaboration between state and federal authorities.
“Ogoniland is becoming a turning point for Nigeria. A new chapter is being opened, and change is starting from here,” Ribadu said.
Also speaking, Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, commended Governor Fubara for supporting ongoing construction on the East-West Road. He disclosed that President Tinubu has directed that a section of the coastal road project should pass through Ogoniland, with design preparations already underway.
Minister of Environment, Hon. Balarabe Abbas Lawal, highlighted progress in environmental remediation efforts, while NNPCL GCEO, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, announced that 30 Ogoni youths have been engaged by the corporation and are expected to resume duties in January 2026 as part of its job creation commitment.
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