Two host communities in Bayelsa State have accused Oando Energy Resources Nigeria Limited of failing to comply with statutory employment quota provisions and have demanded compensation running into *₦150 billion*.
In a petition dated August 12, 2025, addressed to the company’s General Manager, District Office, Port Harcourt, and signed by their solicitor, R.G. Taxbugu and Associates, led by Barrister *Richman G. Taxbugu, the communities of **Oki-ama and Fierebaghe-ama in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area* alleged that Oando had neglected its legal duty to employ indigenes despite over four decades of oil and gas operations in their lands.
The communities, represented by their monarchs, *HRH King Oki Francis Samuel Irighe* (Oki-ama), *HRH King Dr. Okoko Stample Esau* (Fierebaghe-ama), and the chairmen of their chiefs’ councils, said the oil firm had consistently ignored provisions of the *Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act (NOGICD) 2010* and the *Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Community Content Guidelines 2017*.
The letter alleged that while Oando had extracted over *108,349 barrels of crude oil and 230,126 mscf of gas* from the Pirigbene Oil Field, it had failed to open a community office or implement the *10 per cent host community employment quota* required by law.
Quoting a 2022 judgment of the National Industrial Court in Port Harcourt, which awarded over ₦50.6 billion against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) for a similar breach, the communities warned that they were ready to take legal and civil action if their demands were not met.
Their demands include:
* Reservation of *10% employment slots* for community indigenes within seven days,
* Establishment of a *Community Office* in their towns, and
* Payment of *₦150 billion* as compensation.
Failure to comply, they warned, would lead to *mass protests at flow stations*, national media campaigns, and possible international petitions.
The lawyers also reminded Oando of possible sanctions under the NOGICD Act, including *denial of Nigerian Content Compliance Certificates, refusal of project approvals, public denunciation, and penal sanctions*.
“TAKE NOTICE that your refusal to adhere to our clients’ demands will only leave us with the option to pursue the statutory consequences for non-compliance within seven days of receipt of this notice,” the petition stated.
