Delta Community blasts Oando Energy's project approach, seeks Chairman Takeme's intervention

Community leaders are up in arms over Oando Energy Resources Limited's alleged secret operations at the Grangbene Deep "A" Project in Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State. 

The company is accused of bypassing stakeholders and ignoring community engagement protocols, sparking tensions in the region.

According to a press release by Dr. Enewaridideke Ekanpou, Mr. Paul Tusemone, and Chief Aguede Obosu, Oando stormed the project site with two gunboats on March 8, 2026, without informing the Burutu Council Chairman or engaging affected communities, including Oyangbene, Labulouseigha, and Bilazia.

The stakeholders are demanding that Oando halt operations and engage with communities, citing concerns over environmental impact, lack of benefits, and intimidation. They've called on the Burutu Council Chairman, Chief Dr. Julius Takeme, the Delta State SSS Director, and the Hon. Commissioner of Oil and Gas to intervene.

Full statement below:

Burutu Local Government Chairman should call Oando Energy Resources Limited to order over secret operations in Grangbene Deep "A" Project in Burutu Local Government Area on 8 March 2026.

1.We are calling on the Chairman of Burutu Local Government Area,  Chief Dr. Julius Takeme, to liase with the relevant government agencies or institutions and call Oando  Energy Resources Limited to order over its wrong approach to the Grangbene Deep "A" Project. It is a project that involves Oyangbene, Labulouseigha, Bilazia and other communities and these communities are supposed to be meaningfully engaged before commencement of any operation. Oando has been repeatedly told to call stakeholders and engage the communities. The company has refused to heed this call. Rather than engage the communities, Oando stormed the site of the project with two gunboats on 8 March 2026 without engaging the communities and the Burutu Local Government Chairman who is the chief security officer of the communities in Burutu Council. This is a slap on the Burutu Council Chairman  and the communities in the project site.

2.In strong terms we hereby condemn the storming of Grangbene Deep "A" project site today ( 8 March 2026) without meaningful engagement and without telling the Burutu Council Chairman they are in his territory. This is a display of arrogance and power-drunkenness by Oando which daily parades itself as a company that can do whatever it wishes to do in Nigeria. This is totally unacceptable .Whatever Oando has gone secretly to do there without stakeholders engagement is null and void. Oando's approach to the project signals arrogance, disrespect and intimidation. 

3.Prior to carrying out of EIA project in the area, Oyangbene, Labulouseigha, Bilazia and others must be meaningfully engaged but this seems a discomfort to OANDO because they have a plot to ride on the rights of the communities. This is totally wrong and unacceptable. This should be immediately corrected through the quick intervention of the Burutu Council Chairman who is familiar with the territory .

4.In reinforcement of our call for intervention of Burutu Council Chairman, we are also calling on the Director of SSS in Delta State and the  Delta State Hon. Commissioner of Oil and Gas to intervene and collectively call Oando to adopt the right approach to the project in our area. The communities would not tolerate any form of deprivation, oppression and intimidation arrogantly deposited at their doorstep. The Burutu Council Chairman, State SSS Director and the Hon.Commissioner for Oil and Gas should swing into action and call Oando to order.

By: Dr. Enewaridideke Ekanpou, Mr Paul Tusemone and Chief Aguede who are stakeholders in the Grangbene Deep "A" Project from Oyangbene community.