Aggrieved Bayelsa Women Protest Alleged Neglect by Oil Giant Oando

By Naija Enquirer Staff

Hundreds of aggrieved women from Okoroma-Clan (Obama) in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on Friday staged a massive protest at the operational site of oil multinational Oando Plc, accusing the company of decades-long neglect and underdevelopment in their community.

The women, chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Enough is Enough!”, “We Have Been Neglected and Suffering!” and “Oando Must Meet Our Demands!”, expressed frustration that despite over 55 years of oil exploration and production in the area, residents still live in abject poverty.

Women Decry Decades of Neglect

Speaking during the protest, one of the community leaders, Mrs. Blessing Ebi, lamented that both government and oil companies had failed to fulfill their promises to the people of Okoroma.

“For over five decades, Oando has taken away our oil and gas wealth, yet our children have no jobs, our roads are deplorable, and our schools and health centres are in ruins. We have not benefitted from either the Federal, State, or the oil multinationals,” she said.

She accused Oando of ignoring the plight of the host community despite reaping massive profits from oil production in the area.

Determined to Sustain Protest

Another protester, Mrs. Janet Owei, vowed that the women would not leave the company’s premises until their demands were addressed by Oando’s management.

“We came with our cooking pots and mats. We are ready to sleep here if they refuse to see us. We want Oando to remember that we are human beings and deserve better living conditions,” she stated.

Our correspondent observed that the women arrived with kitchen utensils, food items, and sleeping materials — a clear sign of their determination to continue the protest for days if necessary.

Awaiting Response from Oando and Authorities

As of press time, neither Oando Plc nor relevant government authorities had issued an official statement on the situation.

The protest has once again drawn attention to the long-standing grievances of oil-bearing communities in the Niger Delta, where residents continue to decry environmental degradation, poor infrastructure, and lack of corporate social responsibility despite decades of oil exploration.