The people of Olugboboro Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have accused Oando Plc of halting their long-awaited reclamation project.
The community called for the immediate return of the contractor to the project site.
In a petition to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of SILGA 1 Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT), the community condemned the suspension.
It alleged that Oando officials ordered OGBODAWEI Nigeria Ltd. to stop work, claiming the reclamation project was not viable.
The community described the directive as shocking, saying the project had passed all approval stages before the contract was awarded.
It said the reclamation project emerged as its highest priority during separate needs assessments conducted under Agip and later the Petroleum Industry Act framework.
According to the petition, the contract was awarded in May 2026 after an open bidding process.
The contractor reportedly mobilised to the site on June 17 and completed the first phase of excavation before the work was halted.
The community said the project would tackle persistent flooding, reclaim lost land and create space for future infrastructure and economic development.
It described the reclamation as a strategic environmental restoration initiative rather than an ordinary sand-filling exercise.
The petitioners argued that the project aligns with the objectives of the Petroleum Industry Act by promoting sustainable development in host communities.
They insisted the suspension had dashed the hopes of residents who viewed the project as a legacy intervention.
The community alleged that no contractor handling projects in other SILGA 1 host communities had been directed to stop work.
It claimed the decision amounted to unfair treatment and undermined the community’s development aspirations.
The petition urged the Board of Trustees to direct Oando Plc to reverse the decision and order the contractor back to site without delay.
Copies of the petition were sent to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Oando Plc and other stakeholders.