Inside Abigborodo Oil Field Dispute: How Colonial Records, Court Judgments and Competing Ancestral Claims Collide in Delta’s Latest Oil Battle

By Kparobo Ehvwubare
The dispute over the proposed Abigborodo Oil Field (PPL 220) has become more than a disagreement over nomenclature. It is a collision of colonial history, post-independence governance, court rulings, ancestral claims, and modern resource politics, unfolding under the watch of the Federal Ministry of Environment during an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process meant solely to evaluate ecological risk.

At the centre of the controversy are two opposing narratives: one advanced by the Alema of Warri Kingdom, Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan, and the other by the Udogun Okpe (Orode-in-Council) each claiming historical and legal ownership of the land hosting the oil field proposed by Navante Exploration and Production Limited.

The Alema’s Case: “The Records Are Clear”
In a detailed rejoinder addressed to the Minister of Environment and the Permanent Secretary, Chief Uduaghan insisted that the protests by Okpe leaders are contradicted by documentary evidence spanning nearly a century.

According to the Alema, Abigborodo Community, which he administers under the overlordship of the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, is the rightful landowner of the oil field location.

Colonial Records at the Heart of the Claim
Central to Abigborodo’s argument are certified documents from the National Archives in Ibadan, which the Alema says show that:
In 1931, Okpe authorities formally informed British colonial administrators that they had no land to contribute to the proposed Okpe-Sobo Forest Reserve.
This admission, he argues, directly undermines present day Okpe claims that the disputed land historically belonged to them.
When the forest reserve was nonetheless constituted in 1932, representatives of the Olu of Warri protested in writing, asserting that the land belonged to the Itsekiri nation and requesting cancellation of the reserve.
That request was ignored, but the conflict did not end there.

A 1940 Courtroom Turning Point
Abigborodo indigenes continued to farm the land, leading to arrests by colonial authorities. The matter culminated in a March 1940 case at the Sapele Magistrate Court, where Abigborodo farmers were discharged and acquitted.
According to the Alema, the court’s decision affirmed Abigborodo ownership, setting a precedent that was never overturned.

Subsequent petitions by the then Alema of Abigborodo, Chief Okenedo, prompted colonial investigations which:
Produced sketch maps excising Abigborodo land from the forest reserve,
Led to boundary adjustments under the Forest Ordinance, and
Resulted in formal recommendations recognising Abigborodo’s claims.

Post-Colonial Reinforcement: State Actions and Panels
The Alema further points to post-independence government actions, including:
A 1996 Delta State Government land release returning additional areas to Abigborodo Community,
Findings from security investigations and judicial panels, including one set up under former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, which reportedly confirmed encroachment by other groups and upheld Abigborodo ownership.

He also noted that Chevron Nigeria Limited, a former operator in the area, recognised Abigborodo as the host community, reinforcing what he described as long-standing industry recognition.

Okpe Counter-Narrative: “Our Ancestral Land Is Being Renamed”
The Udogun Okpe (Orodje-in-Council) rejects the Alema’s conclusions, insisting that the disputed land forms part of Okpe ancestral territory and that the naming of the oil field as “Abigborodo” is provocative and historically misleading.

According to the Okpe leaders:
The oil field lies within the Okpe-Sobo Forest Reserve, which they claim historically belongs to the Okpe people.

Natural landmarks such as “Hole in the Creek” represent traditional boundaries separating Abigborodo land from the oil field area.

Proceeding with the EIA under the Abigborodo name effectively prejudges unresolved ownership questions.
They argue that allowing the EIA to proceed without resolving the dispute risks escalating inter-communal tensions and have urged the Federal Ministry of Environment to suspend the process pending neutral arbitration.

Geography, Boundaries and the Sapele Question
One of the most contentious points is geography.
While Okpe leaders argue that natural features mark the limits of Abigborodo land, the Alema counters that:
Colonial survey maps and administrative records show Abigborodo land extending into parts of present-day Sapele Local Government Area.
Nigerian courts, he says, have rejected claims of an “Sapele Okpe Community land,” recognising Sapele as historically Itsekiri territory. This divergence underscores how colonial-era boundary decisions continue to haunt modern governance.

Legal Experts Weigh In: “EIA Is Not a Land Court”
Independent legal analysts stated the dispute highlights a recurring misunderstanding of regulatory processes.
Dr. Ibrahim Danjuma, an environmental and energy law expert, explains:
“The Environmental Impact Assessment Act is strictly concerned with environmental and social impacts. It does not confer authority on the Ministry of Environment to determine land ownership or boundary disputes.”

Similarly, Barrister Funke Adebayo, a property and natural resources lawyer, explained:
“Existing court judgments and formal government land releases remain valid until set aside by a competent court.

Administrative objections cannot override judicial decisions.”
However, both experts warn that legal clarity does not automatically guarantee operational peace.

“Even weak claims, if ignored, can disrupt projects. That is why community engagement and parallel dispute-resolution mechanisms is essential,” Adebayo explained.

The Federal Government’s Dilemma
For regulators, the challenge is delicate: how to respect legal precedent without inflaming communal grievances.
Environmental law specialists noted that while EIA processes should continue on their statutory track, land ownership disputes are better handled through courts, boundary commissions, or political mediation, running in parallel.

Investors Watch, Communities Wait
With Navante Exploration and Production Limited awaiting approvals, the dispute has drawn attention from investors wary of Niger Delta instability.
However, Chief Uduaghan has assured the Federal Government that Abigborodo Community will guarantee a peaceful operating environment, while Okpe leaders continue to demand neutral adjudication before full project implementation.

A Familiar Niger Delta Story
Beyond Abigborodo and Okpe, the dispute reflects a broader Niger Delta reality: oil resources reopening unresolved questions of land, identity, and history often rooted in colonial decisions made decades before crude oil was discovered.
As the Federal Government reviews submissions, one thing is clear: the Abigborodo oil field is no longer just about environmental impact, it has become a test case for how Nigeria balances law, history, and peace in its extractive heartland.

Kparobo Ehvwubare is an Investigative Journalist, Good Governance Advocate. Could be reached on omeafrica3@gmail.com.