The oil company, Aiteo, informed Reuters Nigeria that protesters in the Nembe region barricaded its logistics base yesterday and briefly disrupted its operations briefly.

The company had just reopened its Nembe Creek Trunkline, which exports Bonny Light crude oil, last week after a fire incident caused by theft from the pipeline forced its closure.

It said that after a “protracted engagement” with the protesters, they agreed to end blocking the base and formally present their demands to the company.

In the populous Niger Delta area, inhabited by impoverished people, protests are common. They often complain that they do not see the benefits of the crude pumped in their communities.

Since the oil companies are generally more responsive to their demands than the government, the protesters often pour their anger at the facilities.

Aiteo categorically stated that it was committed to working with the community and also noted that it provides its services to the area and has valid contracts with local workers. In the same vein, it appealed to the embittered protesters to negotiate rather than block its operations.

Aiteo’s statement stated that

“These disturbances disrupt our operations and lead to production deferment, which affects not just the company but revenues accruing to the government and people of Nigeria”.

However, the company did not specify if the protests have any impact on oil exports via the pipeline or not.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.