Ndokwa Host Communities Protest Alleged Non-Payment of Oando’s 3% OPEX Funds

Host communities of Oando Energy Resources Limited in Ndokwa East and Ndokwa West Local Government Areas of Delta State on Monday staged separate peaceful protests over the alleged non-payment of their three per cent Operating Expenses (OPEX) Development Funds for 2024, 2025 and 2026.

The affected communities — Okpai, Beneku and Umusadege — called on the management of Oando Energy Resources Limited to urgently address the issue and release the outstanding funds.

Speaking separately during the protests, Comrade Bernard Ibuaka, Chairman of the Okpai Oando Committee; Mr Innocent Okpor of the Community Development Committee, Beneku Clan; and Mr Amuma Victor, Chairman of Umusadege Community on Oando, expressed concern over the prolonged delay in the release of the funds.

In a letter addressed to the General Manager, District, Oando Energy Resources Ltd, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the Okpai Oando Committee expressed frustration over what it described as the company’s failure to release the funds.

The letter, signed by the Chairman of the committee, Comrade Bernard Ibuaka, and the Secretary, Chief Favour Okeleke, stated: “It is unacceptable and disappointing that despite repeated engagements and reminders to your company by members of the Ndokwa Host Community Development Trust, these funds remain unpaid,”

According to the committee, the delay has significantly disrupted development initiatives across the affected communities, with several projects reportedly stalled.

“Projects that were meant to improve livelihoods and infrastructure have been stalled, thereby creating avoidable hardship and economic losses for the host communities.

“Furthermore, the failure to release the funds has deprived the communities of the opportunity to invest the statutory 20% reserve funds for a period of approximately three (3) years, thereby denying the communities the interest and other financial benefits that would have accrued during the period.

“In view of the above, we wish to state unequivocally that the current situation can no longer be tolerated and therefore we demand the immediate release of the outstanding 3% Opex owed to the Host communities in accordance with the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and the NUPRC regulations, 2022.”

The communities urged Oando Energy Resources Limited to resolve the matter without further delay, stressing that the outstanding funds were crucial to the implementation of development projects and improvement of livelihoods within the host communities.