The Alema of Warri Kingdom, Chief Emmanuel Oritsejomi Uduaghan, has defended the naming of the Abigborodo oil field, urging the Federal Ministry of Environment to disregard protests by some Okpe leaders challenging the designation and location of the field.
In a communication to the ministry, the Alema described objections raised by the Udogun Okpe (Orode-in-Council) during the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) public display for the proposed oil field as misleading and unfounded.
He further maintained that the oil field is correctly named after Abigborodo Community and is located within its historically recognised territory in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The traditional ruler stated that claims suggesting the field lies outside Abigborodo land or within Okpe territory are contrary to historical records, court judgments and government documents.
According to him, Abigborodo Community has long been acknowledged as the host community of the oil field, including during the period when Chevron Nigeria Limited operated in the area.
Citing colonial-era records, Chief Uduaghan noted that when the Okpe-Sobo Forest Reserve was being constituted, representatives of the Olu of Warri wrote to the colonial government in July 1932, asserting that the land in question belonged to the Itsekiri nation and calling for the cancellation of the forest reserve.
Although the request was ignored and the forest reserve was eventually established, Abigborodo indigenes continued to cultivate the land. This led to their arrest and prosecution in a landmark case at a Sapele court in March 1940, where the magistrate discharged and acquitted the farmers, affirming that the land belonged to Abigborodo Community.
He further explained that subsequent reviews by colonial administrators, as well as later actions by the Delta State Government, reinforced Abigborodo’s land rights. The Alema also referenced more recent investigations and reports by security agencies and government panels, which he said confirmed the community’s claims.
Addressing arguments based on geographical features such as the “Hole in the Creek,” which some claim separates Abigborodo from the oil field area, the Alema dismissed them as inaccurate. He stressed that historical boundaries and judicial decisions clearly establish Abigborodo’s presence and authority in the area.
The traditional ruler emphasised that the EIA public display process is intended to address environmental concerns and should not be used to reopen settled land ownership disputes. He insisted that the naming of the Abigborodo oil field aligns with established conventions and reflects historical and legal realities.
He concluded by assuring the Federal Ministry of Environment and the project operators that Abigborodo Community remains committed to peace and cooperation to ensure smooth and environmentally responsible operations at the oil field.
