Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Members of the Isoko Development Union Youth Wing Worldwide on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest at the operational facility of Sterling Global Oil & Gas Resources in the Elu/Overede axis of Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State over alleged non-compliance with Nigeria's Local Content Act. The protesters accused the company of failing to adequately implement the provisions of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (Local Content) Act, particularly in the areas of employment, contract awards and engagement with host communities.
Addressing the protesters, the President of the Isoko Development Union Youth Wing Worldwide, Comrade Joel Emeni, urged Sterling Global Oil & Gas Resources to engage constructively with host communities and fully comply with the provisions of the Local Content Act. According to him, the youth body remains committed to peaceful engagement and sustainable development in Isoko land, noting that the protest was intended to draw attention to issues affecting the host communities rather than create unrest.
"We remain committed to peace, development and constructive engagement with companies operating in Isoko land. Our demand is that Sterling Global Oil & Gas Resources should implement the Local Content Act in both letter and spirit by giving qualified Isoko indigenes fair employment opportunities, awarding contracts to indigenous businesses and engaging meaningfully with host communities," Emeni said.
The protesters also called on the company to review its employment policies, create more opportunities for qualified Isoko youths and indigenous contractors, and strengthen its corporate social responsibility programmes in the affected communities. They further appealed to the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board and other relevant government agencies to closely monitor compliance with the Local Content Act and ensure that oil-producing communities benefit from the opportunities created by operations within their environment.
The protest comes amid ongoing concerns over the implementation of the Local Content Act in the Niger Delta, where host communities have frequently accused oil companies of failing to employ qualified indigenes, award contracts to indigenous businesses, and engage meaningfully with communities. This is not the first time Sterling Global has faced protests over alleged violation of local content provisions. In July 2026, hundreds of Nigerian welders and fitters under the aegis of the Nigeria Welders and Filters Association (NWFA) shut down the Ogini Oil field in Isoko North Local Government Area, also operated by Sterling Global, over what they described as a violation of the indigenisation law of the local content policy. The workers accused the management of Sterling Global of recruiting Indian welders at the expense of qualified Nigerian professionals.
The protests reflect a deepening frustration among Isoko youths and workers over what they perceive as systemic neglect and marginalisation by oil companies operating in their communities. Despite Isoko land accounting for 28 per cent of Nigeria's oil resources and over 40 per cent of Delta State's oil output, the ethnic nationality has consistently complained of political exclusion, economic stagnation and environmental degradation. The Isoko Development Union Youth Wing has previously issued a 72-hour ultimatum to Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited over an oil spill in Uzere, warning that failure to respond satisfactorily would compel the youth body to mobilise for the shutdown of all Heritage Energy operational facilities across Isoko land.
The Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, enacted in 2010, was designed to promote the use of Nigerian human and material resources in the oil and gas industry while encouraging the development of local capacity. However, years after its passage, host communities in the Niger Delta continue to argue that the law has not been fully implemented, leaving them with little to show for the enormous oil wealth extracted from their lands. The Isoko youths have made it clear that they will continue to press for the full implementation of the Local Content Act, and that companies operating in their communities must be held accountable. The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board has yet to issue an official statement on the protest, but the Isoko Development Union Youth Wing has reiterated its commitment to peaceful engagement while warning that further inaction could lead to more disruptive actions.
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