By Lucky Issa Itopa
Nigeria’s crude oil production has suffered a major disruption following the shutdown of 13 oil flow stations in Delta State by protesting women and youths from communities in Warri Federal Constituency.
The affected facilities, operated by energy giants Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), and Nestoil/Neconde, are estimated to produce about 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day, raising concerns over fresh economic losses for the country.
Industry sources disclosed that the protesters occupied the facilities on Monday, forcing a halt to operations and effectively shutting in an estimated 400,000 barrels of daily production.
The flow stations affected include Odidi 1 and 2, Batan, Ogbanabou, Jones Creek, Otunana, Egwa 1 and 2, Abiteye, Makaraba, Olero Creek, Dibi Field and Opuekeba.
The demonstrators, drawn from Gbaramatu, Ogbe-Ijoh, Isaba, Egbema and Diebiri Kingdoms in Warri South, Warri South-West and Warri North Local Government Areas, reportedly overwhelmed security personnel and company workers before taking control of the facilities.
Sources within the oil companies also confirmed that the protesters blocked the movement of logistics and supplies through key waterways servicing Chevron, Shell and Nestoil/Neconde operations, further crippling activities in the area.
The protesters, predominantly of Ijaw extraction, said their action was in response to what they described as delays in implementing the final ward delineation report approved by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for Warri Federal Constituency.
According to them, certain interests opposed to the outcome of the exercise were allegedly working behind the scenes to frustrate its implementation despite the completion of the process by INEC.
The shutdown came less than 24 hours after Ijaw and Urhobo groups in the constituency threatened to halt oil production if the electoral body failed to implement the delineation report.
The protesters vowed to sustain the occupation of the facilities until the recommendations contained in the report are fully implemented.
Placards displayed during the protest bore inscriptions such as: “INEC: Implement Warri Delineation Report,” “Court Ordered Judgment on Wards and Polling Units Delineation,” and “No Implementation, No Production.”
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Chief Mrs. Maria Ebike accused INEC of dragging its feet on implementing the outcome of the exercise despite extensive consultations and stakeholder engagements.
“We have waited patiently for the authorities to do the right thing. Since our voices continue to be ignored, we have no option but to demand justice through peaceful protest. No implementation of the ward delineation, no oil production,” she declared.
Ebike further alleged that powerful interests within the Presidency were working to frustrate the implementation of the report, which she described as a lawful and transparent outcome of the delineation exercise.
The controversy stems from a 2022 Supreme Court judgment directing INEC to conduct a fresh ward and polling unit delineation exercise in Warri Federal Constituency.
Acting on the judgment, INEC carried out the exercise and formally presented its final report to stakeholders in Asaba on May 20, 2026.
However, the report has since heightened tensions among the Ijaw, Urhobo and Itsekiri ethnic groups in the constituency, with Ijaw and Urhobo leaders accusing their Itsekiri counterparts of lobbying influential figures within the Presidency and the Office of the National Security Adviser to block its implementation.
With oil production now disrupted and tensions escalating across the region, stakeholders fear that the dispute could further impact national crude output unless urgent steps are taken to address the underlying political grievances.
