Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Members of the Brumuke Sana Family and the Peretoru-Gbene Federated Communities in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have staged a peaceful protest against Renaissance African Energy Company Limited, formerly Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited (SPDC), demanding compensation over an oil and gas facility located on their ancestral land. The protesters alleged that the company has occupied their land without paying adequate compensation to the customary owners, despite years of petitions and appeals to relevant authorities.
According to the protesters, the affected land measures approximately 7,382.805 square metres and hosts the Brass Creek Oil and Gas Manifold and Heliport, a critical facility that links the Tunu, Opukushi and Beniseide Flow Stations to the Forcados Terminal in Delta State. The facility has been operational for decades, yet the family claims they have received no meaningful compensation since an assessment of the land was conducted by Julius Berger in 1993.
Speaking during the protest, family representatives and community leaders accused Renaissance Energy of years of neglect and alleged attempts to divide the community over the ownership and compensation issues. The family said they had submitted several petitions to Renaissance Energy, the Bayelsa State Government, the Police Command, the Joint Task Force and other relevant agencies, but had yet to receive a satisfactory resolution.
The Head of the Brumuke Sana Family said the struggle for recognition and compensation had subjected him to years of court cases, financial difficulties, psychological stress and ill health. "I have endured court cases, financial strain, psychological trauma, and ill health in the struggle for recognition," he said.
Speaking on behalf of the Amananaowei of Peretoru-Gbene Federated Communities, the community leadership affirmed that Maxwell Brumuke is widely recognised in the community as the authentic owner of the land. They stated that there has been no contest over the land for decades, affirming the family's claim to ownership.
The community leadership called on Renaissance Energy to urgently engage the Brumuke Sana Family and pay adequate compensation in line with applicable standards and global best practices. Other chiefs alleged that the family had not received compensation since the 1993 assessment and accused the company of withholding royalties and excluding the family from development benefits connected to the facility.
The protesters called on Renaissance Energy to resolve the matter with the family in order to maintain peace in the area. Some of the inscriptions on their placards read: "No Compensation, No Work," "Give Us Our Right," and "Enough of Renaissance African Energy Company Limited Divide and Rule Game."
The protest comes amid growing tensions in the Niger Delta over land ownership and compensation disputes involving oil companies. Renaissance African Energy acquired Shell's onshore assets in Nigeria in March 2025. Since then, several communities have raised concerns over marginalisation, neglect and unpaid compensation.
The Bayelsa State Government has previously intervened in similar disputes, with Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo acknowledging that host communities were unfairly treated under SPDC's operation and calling on Renaissance to operate differently from its predecessors. However, the Brumuke Sana Family insists that their case remains unresolved.
Attempts to obtain an official response from Renaissance African Energy Company Limited were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. The company has not issued any public statement regarding the allegations.
For the Brumuke Sana Family, the protest is a last resort after years of fruitless appeals. As one protester put it, "We have exhausted our patience. Enough is enough." The family has vowed to continue their peaceful protest until justice is served and adequate compensation is paid.
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