Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Hundreds of residents of Unyenge community in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State took to the riverbank on Thursday, July 30, 2026, in a peaceful but determined protest against what they described as 17 years of neglect, marginalisation, and broken promises by oil and gas companies operating in their area. The protesters, including youths, women, and community leaders, sang solidarity songs and displayed placards bearing inscriptions such as "No bridge, no work," "Employ our youths," and "No road, no work". They vowed to occupy the area until their concerns were addressed.
The immediate trigger for the protest was the collapse of a bridge linking Unyenge Village and Unyenge Beach to the companies' operational base. The bridge caved in on October 15, 2025, when a heavily laden truck belonging to one of the oil companies passed over it. Since then, the community has been effectively cut off. While the companies have reportedly used a pontoon to access their own operations, residents have been barred from using it. They are now forced to travel by boat, paying about ₦1,500 per trip to cross the river. The collapse has halted economic activities, including lumbering, which is a major source of livelihood for the community.
The protest was led by the Unyenge Youth President, Mr. Joseph Timothy, who presented the community's eight-point demands to Savannah Energy Nigeria Limited, and its subcontractors Tulcan Energy Resources Limited, Shimao and Jeosco. The demands include the reconstruction of the collapsed bridge, construction of motorable roads, increased employment opportunities for indigenes, improved conditions of service, salary reviews, implementation of environmental impact assessment recommendations, an upward review of security surveillance contracts, and the rejection of plans to establish a fly camp across the bridge. "We are demanding that the companies address these issues before carrying out further production activities in our community," Timothy stated.
Speaking on behalf of the Village Council, Chief Godwin Matthew accused Savannah Energy of failing to keep its promise to rebuild the bridge by December 2025. He lamented that the company's drivers have since diverted to an alternative route through Esit Eket and Ibeno, leaving the community to suffer the consequences of the collapse. "For over 17 years since Savannah Energy began operations here, we have had no access road, no hospital, no potable water, and now our bridge has collapsed. We have written several letters, but nothing has changed," Matthew said.
The women of the community, led by Mrs. Nkoyo Etim, also raised concerns about the adverse health effects of gas flaring and oil pollution. She decried the lack of basic amenities such as a hospital, potable water, good roads, and a functional market. Etim also noted that women who previously earned income through vegetation-clearing jobs around the companies' fly camp were no longer given such opportunities. The community has also reported respiratory illnesses, which they believe are linked to pollution from the companies' operations.
Efforts to reach the Community Manager of Savannah Energy, Mrs. Arit Bassey, for comment were unsuccessful, as calls went unanswered and messages were not responded to. However, the community has made it clear that they will not relent. "We will not leave here until we see equipment brought in to begin the reconstruction of the bridge," Timothy declared.
The protest in Unyenge is the latest in a series of demonstrations by oil-producing communities in Akwa Ibom State and the Niger Delta, who have long complained of neglect, environmental degradation, and lack of development. Despite the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in 2021, which established the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) to address these issues, communities continue to demand tangible benefits. For the residents of Unyenge, the collapse of the bridge has become a symbol of the systemic neglect they have endured for nearly two decades. As they maintain their peaceful protest, their message is clear: they are no longer willing to accept promises without action.
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