Bonga Deepwater Project: A Call for Ijaw Heavyweights to Rise and Engage

By Engr. Yeigagha Henry JP

The recent approval for the $20 billion Bonga Deepwater expansion has once again brought global attention to the vast petroleum resources lying beneath the waters of the Niger Delta. While the announcement has been celebrated by investors and government officials in Nigeria, the moment also presents a strategic opportunity for the sons and daughters of the Niger Delta, particularly the influential leaders of the Ijaw nation, to step forward and ensure that the region is not left behind.

The Bonga Oil Field, operated by Shell in partnership with Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and other international oil companies, lies deep offshore but within the maritime domain that historically belongs to the Niger Delta. For decades, oil wealth has flowed from this region into the national treasury, yet the communities closest to these resources often struggle with poverty, environmental damage, and limited economic participation.

The Bonga expansion, particularly the Bonga Southwest development, represents a massive economic opportunity. With an estimated investment of $20 billion and projected production of about 150,000 barrels of oil per day, the project will involve enormous contracts in engineering, fabrication, logistics, marine services, and offshore operations. This is precisely why the Ijaw leadership must not remain passive observers.

The Ijaw people are one of the most influential stakeholders in the Niger Delta. From the creeks of Bayelsa State to the riverine communities of Delta State and Rivers State, the Ijaw nation has historically stood at the forefront of the struggle for resource justice and regional development. Today, that struggle must evolve from agitation alone to strategic economic participation.

Prominent Ijaw leaders, entrepreneurs, and industry players: men who command influence in the maritime, security, and oil service sectors should begin positioning themselves and their companies within the supply chain of the Bonga project. Opportunities will arise in offshore security, marine logistics, fabrication yards, environmental monitoring, supply vessels, and technical services.

The region already possesses capable figures and institutions with the experience and resources to participate in projects of this magnitude. What is required now is coordination, vision, and deliberate engagement with the operators and regulators overseeing the development.

Beyond business opportunities, there is also a responsibility to ensure that the environmental integrity of the Niger Delta’s waters is protected. The livelihoods of thousands of fishermen depend on the health of the Atlantic coastline. Ijaw leaders must therefore demand strong environmental safeguards, transparent monitoring systems, and swift response mechanisms to prevent or manage potential spills or accidents.

Equally important is the issue of local content. Nigeria’s petroleum policies were designed to ensure that indigenous companies participate meaningfully in oil and gas projects. Ijaw heavyweights must ensure that these provisions are not merely written on paper but implemented in reality. The Bonga project should become a platform for empowering local industries and developing technical expertise among the region’s youth.

The message at this critical moment is simple: the Niger Delta must not watch the Bonga project from the shore while others sail away with its wealth. This is a time for strategic engagement. It is a time for unity among regional leaders. It is a time for the Ijaw nation to translate its historical advocacy for resource justice into tangible economic participation.

If properly approached, the Bonga Deepwater Project can become more than just another offshore oil development. It can become a catalyst for regional economic growth, indigenous capacity building, and greater prosperity for the people of the Niger Delta. The tides of opportunity are rising in the Atlantic waters of the Delta. The question now is whether the heavyweights of the Ijaw nation will rise to claim their rightful place in shaping the future of this historic project.