Prominent Niger Delta elder and environmental rights advocate, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, has issued a stern warning to the newly appointed Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr. Bayo Ojulari, cautioning him against neglecting the concerns of oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta.
In a his address, Sara-Igbe criticized what he described as the systemic marginalization of the Niger Delta in oil sector leadership, expressing dismay that the region continues to suffer neglect despite producing the nation’s primary source of revenue.
“Our people insisted that Mele Kyari should retire at 60,” Sara-Igbe said, referencing the former GMD. “When it was time to appoint a new head, we demanded a son of the Niger Delta—someone who understands the dynamics of oil production and the plight of our communities. But again, they brought someone from outside.”
He accused Ojulari of lacking connection with the oil-rich region, warning that unless the new GMD engages local stakeholders and addresses the environmental and economic degradation in the area, his administration would face fierce resistance.
“The spirit of Clark [referring to Chief Edwin Clark, a Niger Delta elder statesman] is not dead. If Bayo thinks he can ignore us and appease only the North, he will fail. You cannot explore our resources, pollute our land, and then shut us out of leadership and employment,” he declared.
Sara-Igbe alleged that qualified sons and daughters of the Niger Delta with advanced degrees in petroleum-related disciplines are being ignored in favor of less qualified individuals from other regions. He also criticized the ongoing retirement of experienced hands from the region, stating it is part of a ploy to weaken local representation in strategic oil positions.
He emphasized the worsening state of oil production due to poor community relations, non-functioning refineries, and environmental destruction, insisting that the government must address these challenges by investing in local manpower and infrastructure.
“We are ready to cooperate, but the goose that lays the golden egg must not be killed. We need a GMD who will encourage oil companies to employ our people, revive our refineries, and boost production while protecting our ecosystem,” he stated.
Highlighting the potential of indigenous refineries such as the one in Akwa Ibom and the ongoing projects in Rivers and Delta States, Sara-Igbe noted that if these facilities are made fully operational, Nigeria could reduce fuel prices and even export refined petroleum products to neighboring countries.
He urged Ojulari to visit the Niger Delta, witness the level of environmental devastation firsthand, and engage with local leaders to develop an inclusive oil sector strategy. “This is not the era where oil companies operate without developing the communities. If the GMD fails to understand this dynamic, there will be no peace.”
Calling for equal development across states, he challenged the federal government to empower Niger Delta states like Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, and Akwa Ibom to compete economically with Lagos.
Sara-Igbe concluded with a rallying cry: “The Niger Delta is not dead, and we will not die. We will continue to fight until our region is truly liberated and recognized for the wealth it brings to this nation.”
