OTUABAGI COMMUNITY, BAYELSA: NIGERIA’S FIRST OIL WELL HOST

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It has been 68 years since crude oil was first discovered in commercial quantities in Otuabagi, a community in Ogbia Local Government Area of present-day Bayelsa State. The discovery, made in June 1956, placed Nigeria on the global oil map, but for the host communities, it has been a story of neglect and unfulfilled promises.

Otuabagi and Otuogidi, both in the Oloibiri District, became the epicenter of oil exploration when Shell Darcy, now Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), struck crude in the swampy lands of the Niger Delta. The first oil well, named Oloibiri Well, marked the beginning of Nigeria’s journey as an oil-producing nation. However, despite their historical significance, these communities remain largely underdeveloped.

Before the arrival of Shell Darcy, the people of Otuabagi were predominantly farmers and fishermen, relying on the land and rivers for sustenance. The discovery of oil altered their way of life, disrupting traditional means of livelihood. As oil exploration intensified, farming and fishing became less viable, and the community was left to grapple with environmental degradation, poverty, and a lack of basic infrastructure.

Despite the billions of dollars generated from oil, Otuabagi remains a shadow of what one might expect from such a historically significant place. The promise of development never materialized. A large water tank erected during the administration of Chief Timipre Sylva remains dry, never having served its intended purpose. Basic amenities like potable water, electricity, and good roads are absent, and residents continue to live in hardship.

Over the years, successive governments have made pledges to honor Otuabagi’s place in history. In 1981, former President Shehu Shagari laid the foundation for an oil museum in the community, but the project was abandoned. Years later, President Olusegun Obasanjo attempted to establish a petroleum research institute, but it never saw completion. In a similar fashion, former President Muhammadu Buhari also laid another foundation stone for an oil museum, which was never built. These repeated acts of abandonment have deepened the community’s disillusionment.

Legal disputes further complicated matters as multiple communities in Ogbia Local Government Area laid claim to hosting the first oil well. However, in March 2024, an Ogbia High Court in Yenagoa settled the dispute, ruling that Otuabagi is the rightful host of Nigeria’s first oil well. The court also ordered that the Oloibiri Museum and Research Centre be sited in Otuabagi, affirming its historical importance.

Despite this legal victory, Otuabagi continues to struggle. The community is home to 18 of the 21 oil wells in the famed Oloibiri oil field, yet its people remain impoverished. When Shell abandoned the Oloibiri oil field in the 1970s, citing dried-up wells, the community was left to deal with the consequences. Crude oil still leaks from supposedly capped wells, polluting water sources and farmlands, exacerbating the suffering of the people. Environmentalists have raised concerns over the devastating impact of oil exploration in the area, urging the government and oil companies to take responsibility for restoring the land and compensating the affected communities.

Otuabagi’s story mirrors the plight of many Niger Delta communities that have been left in ruins despite their contributions to Nigeria’s wealth. The people remain hopeful that someday, the area that birthed Nigeria’s oil boom will receive the recognition and development it deserves. Until then, they continue to endure the scars of neglect, waiting for the day when their sacrifices will finally be acknowledged and rewarded.

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