Members of the Umu-Aye family in Ogbogu, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, staged a peaceful protest on Monday, demanding attention from TotalEnergies E & P Nigeria Limited over alleged marginalisation and neglect.
The protesters, who identified themselves as the principal landowners of the Ogbogu Flow Station and associated facilities under Oil Mining Lease (OML) 58, claimed that despite 27 years of hosting the multinational’s operations, the community has largely been excluded from employment opportunities, contracts, and development benefits.
Hensard Times observed that mostly women carried placards reading:
“No MoU since 1999”
“Land rent agreement expired”
“We need graduate employment”
“Replace sacked contract staff”
“Register our company with ECP”.
During the protest, Umu-Aye family secretary, Mr. Nwakanma Agi, highlighted the community’s prolonged infrastructural and economic neglect.
He stressed that more than 60 per cent of TotalEnergies’ facilities are situated on their land, yet the company has made minimal impact on local development.
“The few indigenes employed in 1999 have all retired. Since then, no one from our community has secured a job, despite having qualified graduates.
”Our people are reduced to menial jobs like grass cutting, while major contracts go to outsiders,” Agi said.
Agi further alleged land grabbing by the company, stating that additional land was recently appropriated for facility upgrades without compensation or formal agreement.
He also accused TotalEnergies of environmental degradation, citing pollution from flare pits and waste dumping, which has affected farmlands left for the community.
“They are supposed to pay for flare activities. Our lands are damaged and polluted, yet our people derive no benefit,” Agi added.
On the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), he claimed that Umu-Aye has not benefitted meaningfully, insisting that employment and contracts should not be denied under the guise of PIA compliance.
Speaking on behalf of women in the community, Mrs. Blacky Moses highlighted the social and health consequences of environmental neglect.
“We no longer farm freely. Crops fail because of pollution, children are unemployed, and women suffer from health issues like early menopause and eye problems.
”They should support us because we are the landlords,” she lamented.
As of press time, TotalEnergies had not issued a response to the community’s allegations.
