By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Warri
Protesters from Irri community in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State on Monday brought operations of Oando Oil Company to a halt in a peaceful but determined demonstration over what they described as eight years of abandonment and broken promises.
The protest, which began in the early hours of the day, saw men, women and youths flood the company’s operational site with placards bearing inscriptions such as “We Need Electricity,” “No Single Project Since 2017,” “We Need PIA Project,” and “Our Skills Acquisition Centre and Hospital Are Dormant.” The protest, backed by the Irri Traditional Council, disrupted activities and sent a strong message to the oil firm.
Community leaders said the protest was triggered by Oando’s failure to honour the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMOU) initially signed with the previous operator, NOAC, before the acquisition by Oando.
President of the Irri Development Union, Mr. John Ozaveva Eweh, accused the company of exploiting the community’s resources without any meaningful development.
“Oando has been operating in our community without fulfilling its corporate social responsibilities. We’ve written countless letters, but no response. They are hiding under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to avoid their obligations. The PIA does not say they should disrespect our traditional ruler or ignore our correspondence,” he said.
He warned that if their demands are not met, the community would have no option but to completely shut down all oil exploration activities in Irri.
Echoing the same frustration, Odio Silas Efajamue, representing the Odio-Ologbo of Irri Kingdom, HRM Simon Wajutome Odhomo, Igbogidi I, decried the company’s disregard for traditional institutions and failure to engage the community properly.
“Since Oando took over, they have not paid a courtesy visit to His Majesty. We don’t even know who is in charge. They owe us years of overdue scholarship and have ignored the GMOU they inherited. We also need our sons and daughters employed and a Public Affairs office in Irri, not Kwale,” he stated.
The community’s palace secretary, Hon. Efewomazino Okiroro Otuaga, and landlord chairman, Prince Olomu Chris Ewomazino, said the protest was long overdue. They stressed that the last known project executed by the company in the community was in 2017, despite a GMOU signed as far back as 2015.
“We have been patient for too long. Letters have been written, meetings requested, but they turned deaf ears. This protest is just the beginning if they continue to neglect us,” they said.
The protesters vowed to escalate the action if Oando fails to address their demands, insisting that as a host community, Irri deserves fair treatment, infrastructural development, employment opportunities, and respect.
As of press time, Oando Oil Company was yet to release any official statement in response to the protest.