Oando Accused of Halting Bayelsa Reclamation…

Leaders and residents of Olugboboro Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have accused Oando Plc of unjustly halting an ongoing reclamation project, describing the directive as unfair, irrational and capable of triggering unrest.

Key Highlights
Bayelsa community rejects Oando’s alleged order to stop reclamation project.

Elders describe the directive as “illogical” and contrary to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Community says reclamation is its top development priority after decades of flooding.

Project reportedly passed all approval stages before work commenced.

Residents warn they will reject any alternative project until the reclamation is completed.

In a petition addressed to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the SILGA 1 Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT), the community leadership expressed outrage over what they described as a sudden verbal instruction allegedly issued by officials of Oando Plc directing the contractor, OGBODAWEI Nigeria Limited, to suspend work on the project.

The petition was signed by prominent community leaders, including Chief Ebimobowei Kenbo (Ikpesiwari), Chief Mathew Azeke (Akpokowari), Chief Ayibaini Oweifighe, Chief Layo Tarighebo, General Secretary Napoleon Azeke, Youth President Timiundumene Usen, and BOT member Andrew Vincent.

According to the community, the contractor was informed by the Chairman of the Board, Mr. Profit Toyain, that unnamed officials of Oando Plc, the settlor under the Host Community Development Trust, had directed that work should stop because the reclamation project was allegedly “not viable.”

The community rejected the claim, insisting that the project had gone through every statutory stage before work commenced.

According to the petition, land reclamation had consistently ranked as Olugboboro’s number one priority since the era of the former Agip-operated Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU), long before the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) came into effect.

Community leaders said another needs assessment conducted after the implementation of the PIA again identified reclamation as the community’s most urgent development need.

They explained that after environmental assessments, project scoping, approval by the settlor, an open bidding process and contract award, the contractor mobilised to site on June 17, 2026, and successfully completed the first phase of excavation before receiving the alleged stop-work directive.

The community argued that the original reclamation proposal, covering 500 metres by 100 metres, had already been reduced to 100 metres by 50 metres to fit the available budget, making the decision to halt the project even more difficult to understand.

Residents said the reclamation project is far more than a sand-filling exercise, describing it as a long-term environmental restoration initiative designed to tackle decades of flooding, land loss, displacement, destruction of homes and the absence of space for physical development.

They maintained that the project aligns with the objectives of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, which seeks to promote sustainable development, environmental protection and improved living conditions in host communities.

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According to the community, completing the project would create land for future infrastructure, housing and economic activities while reducing flood risks and improving environmental resilience.

The petition further alleged that no other host community within the SILGA 1 Host Communities Development Trust had been subjected to a similar directive, raising concerns that Olugboboro was being unfairly treated.

The leaders insisted they would reject any substitute project, declaring that reclamation remains the community’s only priority.

“We do not want any other project apart from the reclamation that has already commenced. This is our legacy project, and until it is completed, we will not accept any alternative,” the petition stated.

The community urged the Board of Trustees to intervene immediately and prevail on Oando Plc to reverse the alleged directive, warning that abandoning the project could undermine confidence in the Host Community Development Trust framework established under the Petroleum Industry Act.

As of the time of filing this report, Oando Plc had not issued an official response to the allegations.