WARRI/Nigeria: Nigeria’s crude oil production suffered a major disruption on Monday as hundreds of women and youths from Warri Federal Constituency shut down 13 oil flow stations in Delta State, threatening about 400,000 barrels of daily crude output in protest over the non-implementation of the recently approved ward delineation report by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The coordinated action, which affected facilities operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), and NESTOIL/NECONDE, came less than 24 hours after Ijaw and Urhobo stakeholders in Warri Federal Constituency issued an ultimatum, vowing to halt oil production if INEC failed to implement the final delineation report.
Industry sources disclosed that the affected facilities collectively account for approximately 400,000 barrels of crude oil production per day, raising concerns over the potential economic implications for the country should the protest persist.
The flow stations affected by the shutdown include Odidi 1 and 2, Batan, Ogbanabou, Jones Creek, Otunana, Egwa 1 and 2, Abiteye, Makaraba, Olero Creek, Dibi Field and Opuekeba Flow Station.
The protesters, drawn from Gbaramatu, Ogbe-Ijoh, Isaba, Egbema and Diebiri Kingdoms in Warri South, Warri South-West and Warri North Local Government Areas, reportedly took over the facilities after forcing out security personnel and operational staff of the affected companies.
Sources within the oil firms also revealed that the demonstrators blocked logistics and supply operations through the waterways, further disrupting activities and restricting access to the facilities.
The aggrieved protesters, mainly of Ijaw extraction, said their action was prompted by what they described as the continued delay in implementing the ward and polling unit delineation exercise recently concluded by INEC in compliance with a Supreme Court judgment.
They alleged that certain interests were working behind the scenes to frustrate the implementation of the report, which they believe was fairly conducted and approved by the electoral commission.
Carrying placards bearing inscriptions such as “INEC: Implement Warri Delineation Report,” “Court Ordered Judgment on Wards and Polling Units Delineation,” and “No Implementation, No Production,” the protesters vowed to sustain the shutdown until the delineation report is fully implemented.
Speaking on behalf of the demonstrators, Chief (Mrs.) Maria Ebike accused INEC of unnecessarily delaying the implementation process despite completing consultations and presenting its final recommendations to stakeholders.
According to her, the delineation exercise was intended to address longstanding concerns over political representation and ensure fairness, equity and justice for communities within Warri Federal Constituency.
“We have waited patiently for the authorities to do the right thing. Since they continue to ignore our voices, we have no option but to demand justice through peaceful protests. No implementation of the ward delineation, no oil production,” Ebike declared.
She further alleged that “some powerful forces in the Presidency” were behind efforts to frustrate the implementation of the report submitted by INEC.
The Supreme Court had in 2022 ordered a fresh ward and polling unit delineation exercise in Warri Federal Constituency following disputes over representation and electoral boundaries.
Acting on the directive of the apex court, INEC conducted the exercise and formally presented its final report to stakeholders in Asaba, Delta State, on May 20, 2026.
However, the report has continued to generate controversy among the Ijaw, Urhobo and Itsekiri ethnic nationalities in the constituency, with Ijaw and Urhobo groups accusing some Itsekiri interests of lobbying contacts within the Presidency and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to halt or delay its implementation.
As tensions continue to rise across the oil-rich constituency, stakeholders have warned that failure to address the dispute urgently could trigger wider unrest in a region critical to Nigeria’s oil production and economic stability.
