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BAYELSA, Nigeria - Nigeria’s struggling oil output may be on the brink of another crisis as communities in the oil-rich region threatened to halt production in the next 14 days.
Host communities in the KEFFES area of Bayelsa State issued a 14-day ultimatum to NNPC Exploration & Production Limited (EPL) to overturn a controversial decision concerning security vessel contracts at oil fields OMLs 86 and 88, warning that failure to comply would lead to a complete cessation of oil operations.
In February, Nigeria’s crude oil production decreased to an average of 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd), down from 1.737 million bpd in January.
A letter sighted by Rocketparrot News, which conveyed the warning, was dated March 28, 2025, and was signed by various community leaders including Chairman Christopher Tuduo (Ezetu 1), Dr. Amakiri Ngozi (Fishtown), Tuadei Alex C. (Ezetu 2), among others.
The conflict arose when Pennington Production Limited, a subsidiary of NNPC and operator of the fields, ended the contract with Multiplan Nigeria Limited, a security contractor chosen by the community, and cut down the number of community security vessels from three to two, one of which has been given to a contractor unknown to the host communities.
Pennington Production Limited operates OMLs 86 and 88, a field previously owned by Chevron, located along the coastal line of Bayelsa that encompasses eight communities.
The communities have denounced this action as a violation of longstanding agreements and a move that jeopardizes peace and stability in the region.
They emphasized that these security vessels were initially provided by Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) in 2007 to mitigate unrest and ensure safety in the oil fields, which had been troubled by crises prior to that time.
The letter reminded NEPL that during its 2021 takeover of OMLs 86 and 88 from Chevron, it had committed to assume all existing liabilities and contracts, including agreements for the security vessels. The communities assert that these vessels belong to them, and any modifications to the contract must receive their consent.
The letter states: “KHCDT is demanding the immediate reinstatement of all three security vessel contracts, full payment of outstanding invoices from 2024, and an urgent meeting with NEPL’s management within seven days to resolve this matter.”
The communities vowed that if these demands are not met within 14 days, they would mobilize all necessary resources to halt production at OMLs 86 and 88 until their issues are adequately addressed.
