Nuhu Ribadu, Jtf Commander and Oando Energy Resources Limited’s Gunboat Arrogance and Intimidation in Grangbene Deep “A” Project in Burutu Council, By Enewaridideke Ekanpou

Signals of intimidation have just struck Grangbene Deep “A” Project .The intimidation came from Oando Energy Resources Limited which deployed two gunboats to the site for the purpose of embarking on a covert EIA without prior engagement of Stakeholders. The two gunboats were deployed there on 8 March 2026 in anticipation of a backlash from the stakeholders intentionally denied prior engagement. Could these two gunboats have been illegally deployed without authorisation from the relevant security agencies? The National Security Adviser of Nigeria. The Chief of Army Staff. The Jtf Commander in the Niger Delta. Are these people aware Oando deployed two gunboats to the site of Grangbene Deep “A” Project for a deliberately uncommunicated EIA or soil test? Are these security arms aware Oando was on a journey to intimidate the communities into compliance with their procedurally wrong approach through favourable brainwashing and indoctrination of the benighted in the village?

Absolutely, among many other security institutions, there is urgent need for the NSA and the Jtf Commander in the Niger Delta to call Oando to order for storming the site of Grangbene Deep “A” Project in Oyangbene and Labulouseigha communities in Burutu Local Government Area for a supposed EIA without engaging the communities meaningfully. The right thing to do is to gather the accredited stakeholders of the communities like Oyangbene, Labulouseigha, Bilazia and others and engage them on the modalities for an EIA project. Without such meaningful engagement, Oando suddenly appeared with two gunboats on 8 March 2026 to carry out soil test as part of the supposed EIA. Is EIA usually carried out with gunboats?

The deployment of two gunboats to storm the project site signals a defective approach to community relations. This is condemnable. The gunboats deployed to the project site must be investigated because in the days of NAOC, EIA was carried out without the deployment of gunboats.

Any soil test or EIA embarked upon with the aid of gunboats signals intimidation and defective approach. This means Oando has a duty to engage the communities meaningfully before any acceptable EIA can be carried out in Grangbene Deep “A” Project. Oando’s ‘backyard’ deceptive moves in the area must be held at through the intervention of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and the JTF Commander who are privileged to question any wrong deployment of gunboats in any part of Nigeria without operational necessity in security-related matters.

Oyangbene, Labulouseigha, Bilazia and others are law-abiding communities which do not need gunboats to carry out any project. Using gunboats shows intimidation and combat-readiness to achieve developmentally malicious aims.

In a language of specificity, the presidency which has many institutions with various functions in the governance of Nigeria, is hereby called upon to awaken the relevant institutions and agencies to intervene in this matter and stop Oando’s exploitative approach to the Grangbene Deep “A” Project. The NSA and the JTF Commander can handle this matter with ease as security arms under the presidency.

Educated stakeholders in Oyangbene, Labulouseigha and Bilazia would not accommodate this oppressive approach of Oando. Even without being pressurised, the presidency knows the relevant institutions that can handle this matter and bring justice and put Oando on the right path before the frightened and provoked sneezing of the afflicted .

The engagement of two gunboats in the project site on 8 March 2026 by Oando must be investigated thoroughly for the production of good result bound to shape and guide community engagement as regards Grangbene Deep “A” Project in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.

Two things chiefly demanded are that Oando should quickly engage community stakeholders before any EIA proposed to be embarked upon so that indigenous manpower can be part of it, and that whenever EIA is carried out, it should be done without the deployment of gunboats. The validity of any EIA supposedly carried out in Grangbene Deep “A” Project shall be legally challenged by enlightened stakeholders in any forum. No wrongly channelled EIA project should be imposed on Oyangbene, Labulouseigha, Bilazia and others because their future would be endangered. Because their future would be endangered developmentally, the legal options will be used to invalidate it.

It is purely a dance of insensitivity, arrogance and intimidation displayed by Oando in Grangbene Deep ‘A’ Deep Project but it is not too late if the relevant government institutions can quickly intervene in the matter. Oando has just forgotten the provisions in the PIA ACT as regards local content policy in their operations in any community. To OANDO, the local content policy is a mere legal decoration that could be trampled upon whimsically.

The presidency, NSA, JTF Commander and other relevant government institutions should feel obligated to awaken Oando to the right path in its operations in Grangbene Deep “A” Project in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State. Arrogance, insensitivity, border-exclusivity, oppression, exploitation, deprivation and intimidation must not be deployed as policy tools in dealing with the communities in the Grangbene Deep “A” Project. It is high time Oando Energy Resources Limited immersed itself in border studies as a deliberate policy thrust and be constantly awakened to the dangers of border-exclusivity and the benefits of border-inclusivity applied specifically to community relations management. However, the whole thing is likely to change when the NSA and the JTF Commander become part of the interventionist force as solicited here.

Dr. Ekanpou writes from Akparemogbene, Delta State.