Nigeria, Nov. 11 -- The Ogoni Dialogue Committee (ODC) has ruled out signing an agreement with the federal government on the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland until the people of the oil-rich area have been given an opportunity to decide on the proposed return of oil companies through credible community congresses.

The decision raises a fresh hurdle for the federal government's efforts to restart oil production in Ogoniland, decades after oil exploration was halted amid protests over environmental devastation, economic marginalisation and the killing of environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni leaders in 1995.

According to a report by Punch, the committee said the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) mus...