Tension Rocks Delta As Hundreds Of Youths Shut Down Macaraba Oil Field Over Alleged Marginalisation
....Protesters Demand Recognition As Host Community, Youth Employment And Rights Over Wells 24 And 25
By Passman Akpos
Hundreds of youths from Ifie-Kporo community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State have reportedly shut down operations at the Macaraba oil field, accusing the operating company of marginalising their community and refusing to recognise it as a host community.
The protesters, who stormed the oil field in speedboats on Wednesday, October 21, demanded justice, employment opportunities for local youths and recognition of what they described as their ancestral rights over Oil Wells 24 and 25.
The demonstrators carried placards bearing inscriptions such as “We Want Justice,” “Employ Our Youths,” and “Give Us Our Rights or Leave Our Land,” as they expressed their displeasure over the company’s alleged failure to adequately recognise and engage their community.
The youths accused the operator of conducting oil-related activities on their ancestral land without providing adequate recognition, engagement and opportunities for the host community.
They vowed to remain at the facility until their grievances were addressed, raising concerns about the potential impact of the dispute on oil operations and peace in the area.
Youths Insist Wells 24 And 25 Belong To Their Ancestral Territory
Speaking during the protest, one of the demonstrators, who identified himself as Tosan, accused the company of treating Ifie-Kporo unfairly.
He warned that the youths would sustain their occupation of the facility until the company addressed their demands.
The protesters maintained that Wells 24 and 25 are located on Ifie-Kporo ancestral land and called on the operator to recognise the community’s claims and engage its representatives in resolving the dispute.
They also urged the company to respect the community’s rights under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), particularly the provisions governing host communities and their participation in the benefits associated with petroleum operations.
However, the specific ownership and host-community status of the disputed wells, as well as the company’s position on the allegations, could not be independently established from the information available at the time of filing this report.
Protesters Cite Gulf As Example
The demonstrators also referred to Gulf, which they said had recognised and engaged Ifie-Kporo as a host community in relation to its oil facilities.
They urged the current operator to follow what they described as an existing precedent by recognising the community and establishing a framework for engagement.
According to the protesters, their demands centre on recognition, justice, employment opportunities for qualified local youths and respect for the community’s claimed ancestral rights.
The dispute highlights the importance of transparent engagement between oil companies and communities that claim to host petroleum infrastructure, particularly in the Niger Delta, where disagreements over host-community status, employment and local benefits have repeatedly generated tensions.
Warning Over Peace And Security
The youths warned that continued neglect of their demands could threaten peace in the area, urging the company to embrace dialogue rather than allow the dispute to escalate.
They maintained that their grievances should be addressed through meaningful engagement and a clear resolution of the disagreement over the disputed oil wells.
The protesters’ demand comes amid broader concerns in the Niger Delta over the relationship between oil-producing communities and companies operating in areas claimed as ancestral territories.
Under Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act, the host-community framework provides for the establishment of host-community development trusts and mechanisms intended to support the development of qualifying host communities.
However, determining which communities qualify as host communities for particular petroleum operations requires examination of the applicable legal framework, operational arrangements and relevant facts.
As of the time of filing this report, the operating company’s response to the allegations, the status of negotiations with Ifie-Kporo community and the extent of the disruption to operations at the Macaraba oil field remained unclear.
Tarakirivoice will continue to monitor the situation and report further developments, including any response from the operating company or relevant authorities.
