Massive Protest Erupts As Niger Delta Group Demands Fair Share Of Oil Blocs

Massive Protest Erupts As Niger Delta Group Demands Fair Share Of Oil Blocs

A group representing the Niger Delta’s youth community has raised its voice against the recent allocation of oil bloc licenses to non-indigenes, calling for a 40% share of Nigeria’s oil blocs to be reserved for Niger Delta residents. This demand…Massive Protest Erupts As Niger Delta Group Demands Fair Share Of Oil Blocs

comes as protests intensify in several states, including Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, and Edo, against what they term as unfair practices by the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

The Niger Delta Community Youths Association (NDCYA) made its position known in a petition addressed to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio. The group is seeking an immediate review of the oil bloc allocation process, demanding that the 2022/23 mini bid and 2024 licensing rounds be reversed. The petition argues that the allocation of these vital resources to non-indigenous entities undermines the spirit of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which was meant to prioritize local participation.

The protest, which is gaining momentum across state capitals such as Yenagoa, Uyo, Port Harcourt, and others, asserts that the Niger Delta has been historically marginalized despite its lands being the primary source of Nigeria’s oil wealth. The group points out that the region has suffered environmental degradation, pollution, and health hazards from the oil industry, while local communities receive minimal benefits.

The youths have issued a three-pronged demand:

1. Review of oil prospecting licenses to ensure at least 40% is allocated to Niger Delta indigenes.
2. Commitment from oil bloc owners for environmental remediation of polluted areas and fair compensation for affected communities.
3. Enforcement of corporate social responsibility (CSR), focusing on local employment, training programs, and support for regional businesses.

In light of these demands, the group has called on the Nigerian Senate and other relevant agencies to address these issues, aiming for a fairer, more transparent approach to Nigeria’s oil wealth.

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