The committee for the defense of human rights, CDHR, has called on Oriental Energy Resources Limited, OERL, an oil firm with operational base in Effiat/Mbo community in Akwa Ibom state, to immediately comply with all relevant laws guiding oil business in Nigeria or face impending showdown.
The rights group in its petition to the Nigerian content development and monitoring board, NCDMB, on October 13, urged the board to prevail on OERL which despite its numerous entreaties and warnings, the firm had continued to disregard the rule of law and the wellbeing of its host communities.
A petition to the executive secretary of NCDMB and signed by Comrade Ndifreke Afangide, Chairman, CDHR, Akwa Ibom branch, warned that “the company’s (OERL) actions have resulted in deprivation, exploitation, and oppression of the people of Effiat/Mbo community.
“OERL has refused to respect its agreements and comply with the community content guidelines 2010. All interventions by NCDMB to compel OERL to respect its obligations have yielded no results, and the company continues to operate with impunity”.
In yet another letter to the executive vice chairman of OERL, titled demand for Immediate Compliance with Procedures, Laws, Agreements, and Community Content Guidelines Act 2010, the rights group threatened a mass mobilization and protest in all OERL offices across Nigeria after a 14-day ultimatum if it fails to implement all agreements entered into.
It vows to ensure an engagement with international organizations and regulatory bodies “to expose your deceitfulness and recklessness”, if the laws guiding oil operations were not carried out as expected.
The letter said in parts said “we write to express our continual utter dismay, disappointment, and outrage at the egregious deceitfulness, blatant disregard, and systemic marginalization perpetrated by Oriental Energy Resources Limited (OERL) in its operations, which have resulted in the deprivation, exploitation, and oppression of the people of Effiat Mbo Community.
“Despite numerous entreaties, warnings, and correspondences, your company has persisted in its recalcitrant behavior, demonstrating a flagrant disregard for the rule of law, human rights, and the well-being of our people.
“Our previous protests and correspondences, dated May 5th and August 5th, 2025, served as a clarion call for OERL to rectify its anomalous behavior, comply with relevant laws, and respect the rights and dignity of our people.
“Regrettably, our overtures were met with studied indifference, contempt, and disdain, necessitating our decision to escalate this matter to sister state branches, media houses, and the international community for a comprehensive protest across all your offices”.
The group said that the proposed arrival of a floating production storage and offloading, FPSO, “through an illegal source, bereft of requisite documentation, constitutes a gross breach of trust, a wanton disregard for procedures, safety, and security, and a clear manifestation of your company’s reckless and irresponsible behavior”.
According to the rights group, “we hereby serve notice that OERL must, within 14 days, conform to all procedures, relevant laws, agreements, and community content guidelines. Failure to comply will precipitate a comprehensive response” as stated above.
“We assert our unwavering resolve to vindicate the rights and dignity of our people, protect our environment, and ensure that your company operates in accordance with the laws, regulations, and international best practices”, it concluded.
By Daniel Abia
Port Harcourt