Indigenes of Irri community in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State took drastic action on Monday by disrupting operations at Oil Mining Lease (OML) 60 Flow Station, which is operated by Oando Plc. The community, which has long been affected by the presence of oil extraction in their land, expressed frustration over the company’s alleged failure to contribute to the development of the area, despite benefiting from its resources.
The Flow Station, which was previously operated by Agip Nigeria Limited, supplies 60 to 70 percent of the gas to the Kwale/Okpai Gas Plant. However, this long-standing arrangement has not been beneficial for the host community, according to the protesters, who took to the facility in large numbers to air their grievances. The disruption prevented workers from accessing the premises, effectively halting operations at the site.
The protesters, including men, women, and youths of the Irri community, cited a range of issues, claiming that Oando had neglected its social responsibility to the people of the community. Among their grievances, they highlighted the failure of the company to contribute to the development of key infrastructure, including electricity, healthcare, and education.
The protesters carried placards with messages demanding attention to their needs, including calls for the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) deductions, activation of a skill acquisition center and hospital that have remained dormant for years, and a request for more employment opportunities for indigenes within the company. Other placards read: “Irri Needs Gas Turbine,” “We Need Employment,” “We Need Upgrade of Our Indigenes in Oando,” and “We Need EIA Report.”
The community’s anger stemmed from the belief that Oando, since taking over operations from Agip, had made no visible contribution to the well-being of the people of Irri. They were particularly upset that the company had not invested in basic amenities such as electricity, leaving the community in darkness for years, despite their proximity to a major oil installation.
Odio Silas Efajemue, the Odio-in-Council who spoke on behalf of His Royal Majesty, Simon Wajutome Odhomo, Igbogidi 1, the Odio Ologbo of Irri Kingdom, expressed disappointment with Oando’s lack of engagement with the community. Efajemue, who addressed the crowd of protesters, lamented the poor state of power in the area and said that the Flow Station had been operating in the community for many years without any positive impact on the people.
“We have been in darkness for many years now. The Flow Station has been operating in our community, but there is nothing to show for it. Irri needs light, and we demand it,” Efajemue said. “If we do not get electricity and our other demands are met, we will shut down the flow station. We are serious about this.”
The President of the Irri Development Union (IDU), Mr. John Ozaveva Eweh, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that despite years of oil operations in their land, the community had been left behind. He revealed that the leadership of Irri had written several letters and made repeated requests to the company, but all their efforts had been in vain.
“Oando, formerly Agip, has been operating here for many years, yet we have seen no change. The community has been ignored and neglected,” Eweh said. “We have sent letters, but there has been no response from the company. They are exploiting our resources, but they have given nothing back.”
The protestors were also frustrated by Oando’s lack of involvement in the community. Efewoma Okiroro Otuaga, the Secretary to the palace of the Odio-Ologbo of Irri kingdom, pointed out that despite Oando taking over operations from Agip, the company had not made any effort to engage with the royal leadership or even pay a courtesy visit to the traditional ruler.
“We feel insulted that after taking over from Agip, Oando never bothered to visit our royal father, let alone address the concerns of the people,” Otuaga said. “There is not a single indigene in any management position. Even someone with a doctorate from our community is working there as a junior staff member. This is degrading to us.”
To highlight their frustration and the gravity of their protest, the demonstrators placed a coffin at the entrance of the flow station. They performed rituals around the coffin, which they said symbolized the death of their hopes for development in the community. The protesters set up canopies, prepared food, and indicated their willingness to stay at the site for as long as it took to get a response from Oando.
The protestors vowed to remain at the flow station and block operations unless their demands were addressed. They set a 48-hour deadline for the company to meet their requests or face a complete shutdown of the flow station.
“If our demands are not met within the next 48 hours, we will shut down this flow station. We are determined to ensure that our voices are heard,” said one of the protest leaders. “We will not leave until we see tangible results.”
The situation took a more serious turn when Captain K.O. Popoola, the head of the military force deployed to the flow station, attempted to mediate between the protesters and Oando. Captain Popoola pleaded with the community members to remain calm and not resort to violence, assuring them that their grievances had been reported to the appropriate authorities.
“I understand your frustration, but violence will not solve this problem,” Popoola said. “Please, let’s resolve this matter peacefully. Your concerns have been communicated to the right channels.”
Despite his efforts to de-escalate the situation, the protesters remained firm in their demands, insisting that they would not back down until Oando responded to their calls for development in the community.
The standoff at the OML 60 Flow Station highlights a growing concern in Nigeria over the responsibility of oil companies operating in host communities. Across the Niger Delta region, communities have repeatedly accused oil firms of failing to deliver on promises of local development, job creation, and infrastructure investment, despite benefiting from the resources of these communities.
Many locals argue that oil companies have reaped enormous profits from their land without sufficiently contributing to the well-being of the people who host their operations. This has led to widespread dissatisfaction and increased community protests, as seen in Irri.
