Bonny Indigenes Shuts Down Oil Companies Over Alleged Marginalisation

Indigenes of Bonny town in Rivers State have staged a protest against international oil companies (IOCs), accusing them of neglect and marginalisation over the past five decades.

The demonstration, which began early on Monday, brought the town to a standstill, with major businesses and oil firms halting operations. The protesters, predominantly from Bonny, are calling for an end to what they describe as decades of neglect by the IOCs operating in the area.

Warri Sentinel gathered that the protest was centred around the deteriorating state of the town’s infrastructure, including poorly maintained roads, a lack of modern healthcare facilities, and insufficient amenities.

A community leader from the Jumbo Akatibo Park area, George Jumbo, shared the grievances of local residents, noting that his community was relocated in 1958 to make way for Shell BP’s operations.

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“Since then, we have been squatting in another part of the island, without any meaningful compensation or support from the IOCs,” he said.

The protesters have also expressed frustration over the alleged failure of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) company to deliver on key aspects of its Train 7 project.

Jumbo further claimed that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the federal government and the IOCs had not been honoured, as NLNG opted to merge the Train 7 project with that of Train 8, rather than fulfilling the promises made.

One protester explained that the demonstration was the result of long-standing frustration and anger. “The people of Bonny are tired of being ignored and overlooked. We are demanding immediate action from the IOCs to address our concerns, provide fair compensation, and invest in the community’s development.”

The ongoing protest has paralysed normal activities in Bonny, with businesses and government offices remaining closed. Security forces have been deployed to the area in an effort to maintain order and prevent any escalation of violence.