Residents of Ogwuaniocha and Ogwuikpele communities in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State have protested alleged neglect and lack of basic infrastructure despite oil exploration activities in the area.
The communities accused the Anambra State Government of failing to provide adequate public infrastructure and called on Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO) to fulfill its agreements with host communities.
The residents said they lacked key amenities, including good roads, schools, healthcare facilities, electricity, and potable water. They also alleged that oil operations had negatively affected agriculture, aquatic life, and the environment.
The traditional ruler of Ogwuikpele, Odua Ukwu Ogwuikpele, Anagboso Anselm Bernard Ignatius Okaka, said residents had expected oil exploration to bring development but had instead been left with worsening living conditions.
He also alleged that the community had not seen the benefits of the 13 percent derivation associated with oil-producing areas and called for urgent intervention by the state and Federal Governments.
The President-General of Ogwuikpele, Esumai Patrick Chukwudi, similarly accused SEEPCO of failing to deliver meaningful development to the community despite years of operations.
In neighboring Ogwuaniocha, President-General Vitalis Ekwuanua said oil exploration had affected farming, aquatic life, and the environment, while residents continued to struggle with poor infrastructure.
The communities also called for the full operationalization of the Anambra State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission (ANSOPADEC), with adequate representation for oil-producing communities.
Chairman of the Ogbaru Oil and Gas Technical Committee (OOGTC), Anthony Egwuatu, said the communities were asking SEEPCO to fulfill its commitments while the government provides public services and institutional support.
The demands come amid renewed government action on development in Anambra’s oil-producing areas. In August, the state government approved the operationalization of ANSOPADEC and a road project linking Atani and Umuezerabia in Ogbaru. It also announced plans for a primary school and primary healthcare center in Umuezerabia.
The dispute between SEEPCO and host communities has also previously attracted federal intervention. In July 2025, RMAFC said it had convened a meeting to mediate over complaints concerning the company’s corporate social responsibility obligations to communities in Ogbaru.
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