Nigeria’s projected oil production target for the 2025 national budget faces a significant setback as protests erupt in the Itsekiri community of the Niger Delta, causing a dip of 28,000 barrels per day in production at the Escravos oil facility in Ogidigben—one of the seven Ugborodo communities.
News Central’s Austin Azu reports that the peaceful occupation of the facility early Wednesday morning by men, women, and youths from the Itsekiri community is a direct response to what they describe as “an unfair proposed ward delineation” by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The affected oil facility, previously operated by Shell and now managed by Renaissance Africa Energy Holdings, is now under siege by demonstrators who accuse INEC of “deliberately reducing Itsekiri representation” in the newly proposed ward structure for the Warri Federal Constituency, while increasing representation for other ethnic groups.
The protesters have warned of potential further shutdowns of oil installations if their concerns are not addressed.
This development comes at a time when Nigeria is already struggling to meet its daily oil production goal of 2.06 million barrels for 2025, amid falling crude prices and rising global trade tensions.
In a related blow to the economy, the Donald Trump administration last week imposed sweeping trade tariffs on multiple countries, including a 14% tariff on Nigerian exports to the United States. These new tariffs range from 10% to 65%, significantly impacting global trade dynamics.
Reacting to the situation, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, said the Federal Government plans to boost non-oil revenue as a way of cushioning the impact of the new tariffs.
“It’s the price effect, the oil price effect that may affect Nigeria. And it is the job and responsibility of the economic management team of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, amongst others, to look at the various scenarios that might play out.
“There’s global uncertainty at a huge level, so nobody knows exactly what will happen—the announcement that has been made. We’re not sure what will be delayed, what will be reversed, or what will be implemented.
“So, it is not an announcement that the budget is being reviewed. It’s an announcement that it is our responsibility to look at the various scenarios and options and advise government accordingly,” Edun stated during a press briefing at the Ministry of Finance in Abuja.
Currently, Nigeria’s oil production hovers around 1.75 million barrels per day, exceeding its OPEC quota of 1.5 million b/d. But unrest like this poses serious risks to sustained output.
In a video obtained by News Central, protesters can be seen chanting and singing in front of the oil facility, while armed security officers stand guard, preventing access to the installation.
Prior to the shutdown, signs of unrest were already visible as Itsekiri youths and women marched across the three Warri LGAs, rejecting INEC’s proposal during a peaceful protest at the Olu Palace Field. They argued the proposed ward structure unfairly favours the Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic groups.
“We reject the delineation. It favours other ethnic groups by creating new wards for them while reducing those of the Itsekiri—even in our historically established areas,” one protester said.
Meanwhile, in Warri South LGA, leaders from the Okere-Urhobo Kingdom also expressed discontent, insisting that INEC’s allocation of only one ward grossly underrepresents their population. “Our numbers warrant four to six wards, not just one,” a leader from the community stated.
INEC, acting on a Supreme Court mandate, had recently presented its ward delineation report to the affected communities and asked each ethnic nationality to review and respond accordingly.
The report reveals the following allocations:
- Warri North LGA: 18 wards — Ijaw (10), Itsekiri (8)
- Warri South-West LGA: 19 wards — Ijaw (14), Itsekiri (5)
- Warri South LGA: 20 wards — Urhobo (9), Itsekiri (8), Ijaw (3)
As the tension escalates, the Itsekiri have vowed to press forward with more protests and oil facility shutdowns unless the ward delineation is revisited.
