Tensions are rising in Bayelsa State’s coastal region as eight oil-producing communities have issued a seven-day ultimatum to Nigerian National Petroleum Company Exploration & Production Limited (NEPL), threatening to shut down operations at Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 86 and 88 over a dispute regarding security vessel contracts.
The affected communities—Koluama 1 & 2, Ezetu 1 & 2, Foropa, Fish Town, Ekeni, and Sangana—have accused NEPL and its contractors of sidelining local stakeholders in awarding security contracts traditionally handled by the host communities. The KEFFES Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT), which represents these communities, warned that the company’s ongoing disregard for local interests could spark unrest and disrupt oil production.
At the center of the standoff is Pennington Production Limited and its subcontractors, Multiplan Nigeria Limited and EDEMX, who allegedly took over key security contracts without consulting or engaging the host communities. The KEFFES Trust claims that the new contractors ignored invitations to attend resolution meetings held between April and May 2025 and have delayed payments to local contractors, some dating back to 2023.
“These vessels aren’t just equipment—they are symbols of peace and economic survival,” stated Chief Tuduo Christopher, Chairman of the KEFFES Trust, in a strongly worded letter to NEPL. The Trust emphasized that over 650 people in the communities rely on these contracts for direct and indirect employment.
Citing Section 257(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, the Trust warned that if the grievances are not resolved within seven days, they will demand the evacuation of all contractors and vessels from OMLs 86 and 88 within a further 14 days—an action that could lead to a full operational shutdown.
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The warning letter has been forwarded to several key government bodies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
“We are tired of being ignored. This is not just about contracts; it’s about our survival, peace, and rights,” the letter read. “The longer this drags on, the more we risk slipping into chaos. A stitch in time saves nine.”
This dispute comes amid a broader trend of rising friction between host communities and oil operators, especially as international oil companies exit Nigeria’s onshore fields, leaving domestic firms and NNPCL to manage increasingly fragile community relations.
Attempts to get a response from NNPCL spokesperson Femi Soneye were unsuccessful as he did not respond to multiple inquiries.
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