Women Protest Nude Over NNPCL-Chinese Firm MoU in Rivers

Women from the Alesa community in Rivers State protested nude at the Port Harcourt refinery over a memorandum of understanding signed between the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and two Chinese firms for the rehabilitation of the refinery. The protest, which has entered its second week, involves elderly women and youth who barricaded the refinery gate, accusing the federal government and NNPCL of excluding the host community from negotiations regarding the agreement.

Catherin Abbei Wai, a community leader, expressed concerns about the lack of benefits from the refinery, stating that the land is no longer viable for farming and that there is no financial assistance available. Elizabeth Bouro, another leader, emphasized that the protest would continue until their demands are met, insisting that the government should engage with the community to ensure equitable benefits from the refinery operations.

Despite previous rehabilitation efforts costing billions, the refinery remains non-functional.