By Sunday Apah
The Urhobo ethnic group has sounded a grave warning against what it terms a deliberate and calculated marginalization of its people from influential positions in Nigeria’s petroleum industry. They urge the Federal Government to urgently rectify this injustice to prevent escalating unrest.
In a statement issued Tuesday, January 13, 2026, and jointly authorized by the Chairman of the Urhobo Nation Palace Representatives on Oil and Gas, Olorogun (Chief) Wilson Ejeben, alongside Secretary Dr. Igho Egbi, the Urhobo traditional rulers from 24 kingdoms voiced profound indignation concerning recent leadership appointments within the oil and gas sector.
The declaration underscores an acute observance of appointments made to the boards and senior management of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), highlighting the conspicuous exclusion of duly qualified Urhobo citizens.
Further, the statement censures both indigenous and multinational oil corporations operating in Urhobo oil-rich territories for ongoing neglect. It accuses these entities of exploiting natural resources without offering proportional opportunities in employment, contract distribution, skills development, or meaningful corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Labeling the current predicament as profoundly unjust, Urhobo leadership emphasizes that such exclusion violates the spirit and letter of Nigeria’s petroleum legislation, notably the Local Content Policy and Host Community Development requirements intended to prioritize indigenous participation.
“It is a glaring contradiction that the Federal Government enshrines a Nigerian Content Development Policy in the oil and gas sector while simultaneously marginalizing Urhobo representation in critical boards, commissions, and other strategic posts,” the statement asserts.
The leaders stressed Urhobo land’s pivotal role in Nigeria’s oil production, revealing that the region contains over 350 oil wells, more than 15 flow stations, and at least 12 fields, accounting for roughly 10% of national crude output.
Based on these facts, the Urhobo people demand an immediate halt and reversal of the entrenched exclusionary practices that have sidelined them from executive and managerial roles within the petroleum sector.
They call upon the Federal Government, relevant ministries, and regulatory bodies to implement urgent reforms, and urge oil companies and service providers to enhance their engagement and equitable distribution of benefits to the Urhobo host communities.
The statement cautions that sustained neglect threatens to severely impair relations between oil firms and the Urhobo kingdoms, emphasizing that justice, inclusivity, and fairness remain essential to maintaining peace and stability across the Niger Delta.
“The Urhobo people are resolved to take control of their destiny,” the communique declares, noting the growing anxiety and restiveness among youths and women nationwide.
The leadership closed with a stark appeal for prompt intervention, warning that failure to address these grievances could inflame tensions further, reminding all stakeholders that “a stitch in time saves nine.”
