Niger Delta: Tension as over 100 oil producing communities protest non-payment of entitlements
There was heavy protest in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Thursday as more than 100 oil-producing communities and families staged protest over the non payment of their entitlements. Our correspondent, who monitored the development, reports that the protesting communities from six states in the Niger Delta stormed the Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited gate in Port […] Niger…
Tension erupted in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, on Thursday as more than 100 oil-producing communities and families staged a protest against the non-payment of their entitlements. Our reporter observed the situation and learned that the protesting communities from six states in the Niger Delta had stormed the Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited site in Port Harcourt, demanding payment of approximately 87 billion naira in outstanding ground rent.
The affected states included Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Imo, Akwa Ibom, and Abia. The protesters demanded harmonization of payments and uniform rates of 600,000 naira per hectare, arguing that disparate rates paid to different oil-bearing communities was an act of unfair treatment. The protesters held signs with messages such as "Shell/Renaissance must obey the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources," "Shell/Renaissance should comply with the Senate resolutions of 24th Jan, 2019 on discriminatory payments," and "Shell divestment will not stop the payment of our 10 years land rent arrear."
A representative of the oil-bearing communities, Chief Ayiba Job from Azagbene Community in Bayelsa State, accused Renaissance Africa Energy (formerly SPDC) of disregarding the demands of the affected communities. Job revealed that the communities had petitioned the Senate, leading to a Senate resolution in March 2019 calling for a uniform payment of 600,000 naira per hectare.
However, he alleged that Renaissance Africa Energy had not implemented the resolution and explained that the ground rent only applies to communities whose lands were acquired between 1970 and 1978. Renaissance Africa Energy's Vice President, Relations and Sustainable Development, Mr. Igo Weli, spoke on behalf of the company at the protest.
He stated that the company acknowledged the communities and individuals from whom it acquired land, had documentation proving that it fulfilled its agreed obligations, and was in good terms with its "landlords." Weli added that the company would renegotiate leases whenever existing agreements expired, in line with its standard procedures.
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