BY HOPE AKAEZUE
THE Abigborodo community in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State has alleged that SEPLAT Petroleum has continued to disregard its rights as host to major oil installations in OML 41.
At a press conference held in the town, community leaders accused SEPLAT of pressing ahead with new pipeline installations without consultation, despite years of documented evidence of ownership of lands in Ugbekoko, Uton Iyatsere and Abigborodo.
They recalled that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA)of 2021 and the Host Communities Development Regulations of 2022 clearly spelt out the obligations of oil companies to engage host communities. Yet, they said, SEPLAT has ignored these provisions, leaving the people sidelined.
The community pointed to several government reports, including the Delta State Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Okpe Sobo Forest Reserve, published in gazette no. 1 of 2021, which affirmed Abigborodo’s ownership of the lands. They lamented that the state government was yet to act on the white paper arising from that inquiry, which called for recognition and compensation of the people.
The community leaders also cited the findings of the Peace Building and Conflict Resolution Committee, which investigated complaints against SEPLAT and concluded that Abigborodo and Ugbekoko are host communities.
“The commencement of pipeline operations without resolving earlier disputes leaves much to be desired,” the community declared, warning that such actions risk fueling communal crises and social unrest in the Niger Delta”
Answering questions from journalists, the chairman of the Abigborodo Management Committee drew parallels with the Niger Delta crisis that led to the amnesty programme. He argued that the root cause was the trampling of community rights, and cautioned that unless SEPLAT engages with Abigborodo, the situation could escalate.
He urged the governor of Delta State to take decisive action by implementing the white paper and the peace-building committee’s report
The community outlined its demands: SEPLAT should halt pipeline operations until proper engagement is established; security agencies should not be used to suppress legitimate protests; and the Federal Government, NUPRC and other relevant agencies should intervene to protect Abigborodo’s rights.
The representatives stressed that they remain committed to peaceful and lawful means of defending their lands. But they warned that continued disregard of their rights would deepen poverty and threaten peace in the Niger Delta.
