Women and youths of Ohiauga Community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State have staged a peaceful protest, accusing TotalEnergies of excluding the community from the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) despite hosting oil facilities.
The Paramount Ruler of Ohiauga Community, Eze Bright Abali, said the community has been left out while neighbouring host communities benefit from the PIA. He also lamented the environmental degradation caused by oil operations, including health challenges and destruction of farmlands, insisting that the protest would continue until the community is recognised under the Act.
The community’s Women Leader, Theresa Eke, and Chairman of the Community Development Committee, Odiegba Young-Ikechukwu, described the exclusion as unjust, saying it has worsened the hardship faced by residents, particularly women and farmers.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Oil and Gas Committee of OML 58, Pastor King-David Nwaoburu, suggested that TotalEnergies may be unaware of the omission. He called on the company to urgently address the situation and ensure Ohiauga Community receives its rightful benefits under the Petroleum Industry Act.
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