Tensions are rising in Rivers State as residents of Alesa Community in Eleme Local Government Area intensify their protest against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, blocking access to the Port Harcourt Refinery for the fifth consecutive day.
The demonstrators—comprising youths, women, and elders—have turned the refinery gate into a protest ground, sealing the entrance with traditional materials such as raffia palm while setting up canopies and even a live DJ stand, signaling their resolve to sustain the action.
At the heart of the protest is a demand for the immediate reconstitution of a Joint Community Relations Committee, which residents say is critical for ensuring proper communication and engagement between the refinery management and the host community. 
The unrest follows a recent Memorandum of Understanding signed by the NNPCL with Chinese firms to facilitate a Technical Equity Partnership aimed at completing and operationalising the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries. Community members argue that they were excluded from the process, despite being directly impacted by the refinery’s operations.
Some women in the community expressed frustration over what they described as years of neglect, saying they have little to show for the farmlands they surrendered for the project. They also raised concerns about the lack of employment opportunities for local youths.
Echoing similar sentiments, Alesa Stakeholders Secretary, Timothy Mgbere, criticized the agreement with the foreign partners, insisting that host communities should not be sidelined in decisions that affect their livelihoods.
As the protest continues, pressure is mounting on authorities to address the grievances and prevent further disruption at one of the country’s key oil facilities.
