Field Report 002
Date of Report:
28 February, 2024
Location:
Alkeleri LGA, Bauchi State
Introduction
Following the growing apprehension about oil exploration and likely impacts by community members in Alkeleri Local Government Area of Bauchi, the Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) organised an interactive discussion with community members on the 28th of February, 2024 to hear directly from them and document their worries. The discussion with the host communities was aimed at educating them about the impacts of oil in the Niger Delta and the likely fallouts of oil exploration in their community. The meeting also provided the opportunity to fill their knowledge gap on environmental issues likely to arise following the discovery of oil in the north.
Background
In an effort to expand revenue from oil and gas, the Nigerian government in October 2019 announced that it found one billion barrels of oil reserves and 500 billion cubic feet of gas within the Kolmani River area of Gombe and Bauchi States. The oilfields (OPL 809 and 810) which are to be developed by Sterling Global Oil, the Northern Nigeria Development Commission (NNDC) and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited have attracted an investment portfolio of about $3billion marking a journey of oil exploration in northern Nigeria. The launching exercise was done by former president, Muhammad Buhari on 22nd November, 2022.
Northeastern Nigeria has been a hub of violent activities by the Islamist fundamentalist group known as Boko Haram. In July 2017, the group attacked and killed dozens of oil contractors in a deadly ambush which also witnessed the abduction of 10 members of the oil exploration geological research team. The oil discovery in the north increased hopes that Nigeria’s oil production could increase and help restore Nigeria’s crippled economy. However, with the presence of Boko Haram in the area, oil exploration has continued to pose a threat to oil exploration workers and researchers.
Aside from the fear of Boko Haram, the discovery of oil along the boundary lines of Bauchi and Gombe State has created friction and tension among the host communities claiming ownership of the location of the oil well and increased cases of armed banditry, kidnapping, land grab, insecurity and health challenges confronting the communities.
Testimonies from Local Community Folks
Sabka Mbami,
Community Leader
“Already the political elites have started creating conflict among the once peaceful communities along the Bauchi and Gombe border. The Oil discovery has resulted to fighting over farmlands, also some strange faces believed to be armed thugs are now seen in the community along with cases of kidnapping, killings, banditry activities and daily news of insecurity”
Hajiya Zainab Muhammad
We still lack basic amenities such as healthcare centers, schools and clean water in the community. Majority of the people in the community are poor so it is easy for the people from the city to manipulate them with promises of a better life and take over their lands.
Samuel Abdullahi
I used to work in the forestry department. The Yankari game reserve is about 16 kilometers from the closest drilling sites which is endangering the wildlife and posing a huge danger to ecological life in the fragile ecosystem.
Hajiya Sadiya Yunusa,
Woman Leader In Alkeleri LGA
The activities of miners and oil exploration personnel who throw money around have led to promiscuous behaviour within the community, making young girls vulnerable, increasing teenage pregnancy and drugs.
Mrs. Hauwa Dan Musa
We are now witnessing health challenges in the community. Most of the small settlements in Alkeleri LGAs now contend with health challenges in the area where artisan mining and oil was discovered.
Juliet Ezekiel
The activities of miners is already causing environmental problems for us. There are many cases of dynamites used to blast rock that have led to injuries in the community and in most cases no one is held accountable responsible for it. The traditional leaders are alleged to be compromised.
RDI Recommendations
- Need for the relevant authorities at state and federal levels to engage host communities and address their immediate and long-term concerns about oil exploration and the environment
- Initiation of CSO engagement with host communities in Bauchi and Gombe States to enable them understand the issues around their rights, hostility issues, and also the implications of oil exploration and gas flaring.
- Engagement of community based organisations to advocate for community rights and demand for environmental and social rights for the locals.
- Need for media to highlight the concerns and challenges of host communities in the oil belt of Bauch and Gombe States
