The Delta State Government has strongly instructed Sterling Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO) to urgently issue a Purchase Order for the supply of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) to the communities covered by the AGGE Bayelsa and Delta GMOU Board.
The directive, signed by the State Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Hon. (Chief) Peter Uviejitobor, instructs SEEPCO to begin supplying up to one million liters of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) starting in September 2025. The fuel will be delivered through vendors selected by the GMOU Board, based on agreements made during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held on Tuesday.
The statement noted that the meeting included representatives from the Ministry of Oil and Gas, along with officials from the AGGE GMOU Boards of both Bayelsa and Delta States. Discussions focused on the needs of host communities, especially around energy supply, resource control, and their involvement in securing oil assets.
Besides supplying AGO, SEEPCO has also been instructed to provide three vessels to the GMOU Board. The company must also begin talks to renew the expired GMOU within the next 60 days. This negotiation process will be supervised by the Delta State Ministry of Oil and Gas to guarantee transparency and accountability.
The Ministry emphasized that AGGE Delta is entitled to its full 30 percent share in the current Surveillance Contract arrangement. This step, it explained, is aimed at increasing community involvement in securing oil facilities and ensuring fair distribution of resources between the Delta and Bayelsa parts of the GMOU.
The directive was also sent to the Nigerian Army headquarters in Abuja, the Delta State Police Command, and the DSS in Delta, highlighting how seriously the government is taking the matter and its commitment to preventing any unrest in the oil-producing region.
According to observers, this move signals a renewed effort by the Delta State Government to ensure stability, transparency, and equity in how oil companies engage with host communities, especially through the GMOU framework. Introduced by major oil firms in the early 2000s and later adopted by many independent producers, the GMOU remains a vital tool for managing relationships between companies and communities in the Niger Delta.
Over the years, disputes over how GMOU agreements are carried out—such as delays in community projects and unfulfilled supply commitments—have led to rising tensions and, at times, violent protests in host communities. Analysts say the Delta State Government’s recent directive to SEEPCO is a proactive step aimed at preventing such crises by ensuring oil companies follow through on their obligations.
Community leaders point out that the supply of one million liters of AGO is especially crucial now, as many host communities face fuel shortages, unreliable electricity, and soaring energy costs. Once delivered, the fuel is expected to ease the strain on powering essential services like community projects, health centers, schools, and small businesses.
According to insiders, the provision of vessels is a key issue in the AGGE area, which is riverine and hard to access. By requiring SEEPCO to supply three vessels, the government is tackling both the transportation difficulties and the wider need for infrastructure support in these oil-producing communities.
Stakeholders also view the 60-day deadline for GMOU renewal talks as a crucial move toward strengthening accountability. For years, expired or poorly enforced GMOUs have stirred tensions, with communities frequently accusing oil companies of using the situation to delay fulfilling their responsibilities.
By placing the Ministry of Oil and Gas at the heart of the negotiation process, the Delta State Government is making it clear that it aims to play both a regulatory and a watchdog role in ensuring fairness for oil-producing communities. Analysts believe this approach could set a new standard for stronger government involvement across other oil-rich states in the Niger Delta.
Security experts also note that securing AGGE Delta’s 30 percent share in the Surveillance Contract is a smart, strategic move. With growing concerns over pipeline vandalism, oil theft, and unrest in host communities, involving locals directly in security efforts could build trust, improve cooperation, and help curb sabotage.
The Delta Government’s involvement is expected to have an impact beyond just AGGE, as oil-producing communities throughout the state and the wider Niger Delta continue to demand fair treatment, development, and respect for agreements with host communities. The next few weeks will be crucial in testing SEEPCO’s willingness to comply and the government’s commitment to enforcing its directive.
For now, the directive has been praised as a strong and needed move to build trust, ease tensions, and foster a more transparent and mutually beneficial relationship between oil companies and the communities they operate in.
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