In the past one year, Nigeria’s crude oil production has been on the ascendancy. Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, said the latest figure is nearing 1.7 million barrels per day. This is good news but not many Nigerians notice the role of Delta governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, as one of the critical factors driving this growth in oil production.

When the governor, more popular by his first name Sheriff, a clear attestation of his endearment to his people, took charge on May 29, 2023, he promised to do more. A key component of his M.O.R.E Agenda was ‘peace and security’. And he has delivered on this with aplomb. Delta is a leading oil-bearing state. Any distortion in the crude oil production within the state bears direct impact on the national production output. In most cases, the disruptions force oil majors to declare force majeure with the net effect being drastic reduction in crude export and invariably poor receipts in petro- dollars for the country.

Oborevwori understands the place of Delta in the national oil production matrix and he has taken steps to  not only sustain the peace he inherited from his predecessor but to ensure that safety valves were installed to forestall any upheaval capable of causing disruption in crude production and allied oil and gas activities in the state.

It was no brainer that Delta State was adjudged the Safest State for Oil and Gas Investments in Nigeria in 2024 at a recent award ceremony sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and organized by the Nigeria Oil & Gas Forum. The award is regarded as one of the most realistic laurels in a nation littered with awards because the verdict is from industry stakeholders. The nature of such award is such that would make the governor gush and gloat. But he did not. Instead, he pledged to do more to sustain peace in the state which will translate to increased oil production and more money for the country.

No debate, there is peace in Delta state. But this peace is not on account of zero prospect of crisis. It’s only because the governor displayed proactive pragmatism in staving off potential crisis and nipping in the bud issues likely to snowball to skirmishes.

Oborevwori’s knack for conflict resolution and peace-building has been put to test these past 12 months and in all, he triumphed. A quick preview of some of his many interventions to avert crisis will help Nigerians appreciate the efforts he put in to sustain peace in the state.

He averted the intended shutdown of Otumara Flow Station in OML 43, operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company Ltd in Warri South West Local Government Area over the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) which would have cost the state 20,000/bpd of its production quota.

Worthy of note is his dexterity to successfully resolve an over ten-year ownership dispute and claim to Well 9-Owhe Field in OML 30, operated by Heritage Operational Services Ltd.  The dispute was between Otor-Owhe and Olomoro communities in Isoko South and Isoko North Local Government Area of the State.

His government also averted serious crisis between Uzere community in Isoko South LGA and Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited over the Independent Power Plant project. This intervention sped up work at the site with the project now about 85% completed. Part of the peace deal was free gas supply by Heritage Energy to the plant for the next two years after completion.

Delta has enjoyed stability in the supply of petroleum products and this is no happenstance. It is largely due to the swift resolution of a dispute within the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union, a strategic union in the distribution chain which now enjoys leadership stability.

His government laid the building blocks for peace resulting in the drilling of KURI Well 2 in Kuri Field (Makaraba field area) operated by SHN Energy Limited, a project now nearing completion.

Oborevwori’s role in resolving an over ten-year industrial dispute involving the Udu/Ughelli South and North OML 34 Host Community Workers Association and NPDC ND Western should never go unreported. This brought about almost 100% increase in the wages and welfare packages for the Host Communities’ staffers. End result: peace in the oil-bearing community.

It’s hard to overlook the resolution of OML 26 AMT-operated pipeline surveillance dispute involving Jeruvie Nigeria Limited/Ozoro monarch and the Ikpide family of Ozoro kingdom in Isoko North LGA. Neither should we ignore the resolution of the PIA implementation impasse between Egbema and Chevron Nigeria Limited. The government facilitated the successful setting up of a Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) which brought peace in the area to the delight of all stakeholders.

There was also the successful implementation of the PIA and setting up of the HCDT in OML 147 cluster operated by PANOCEAN Nig. Ltd. This added to the dew of peace now showering across the creeks.

Space will not fail me to address the maturity and wisdom exhibited by Oborevwori in the resolution of the crisis that arose between Okoloba and Okuama communities. For two communities that have endeared a long-standing cold war, it took the governor’s conflict resolution skill to herd both communities to a peaceful terminus.

Oborevwori’s peace-restoration imprints dot the landscape of Obodougwa-Ogume in Ndokwa West Local Government Area where he restored order in the tussle over chairmanship of the Community Development Committee. The same skill was deployed to quell the crisis among the five constituent families of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom, Warri South Local Government Area. The governor also waved his magic wand to birth peace during the tussle for the Crown of Ovie of Agbarha Kingdom, in Warri South Local Government Area.

To an outsider, these interventions may sound alarmist. To some, they may seem inconsequential for any person to trot out as part of a bouquet of achievements by a governor. Get it, they are not alarm bells merely ringing to be heard and noticed. They represent the deliberate, well thought-out strategies of a peaceful leader who consciously took steps to birth and sustain peace in his state. As they say, only the peaceful can beget peace. Oborevwori has exemplified this saying in his first one year in office. The peace-loving governor from the precincts of Okpe kingdom has cast rays of peace across Delta state for the good of both his state and the nation.

On account of this, Deltans are at peace with themselves hence they have been able to undertake socio-economic activities unhinged from insecurity encumbrances. Much more, the Nigerian government is stacking up more money from the international crude oil market from increased crude oil production. In life, you may have to stoop to conquer where and when necessary. Oborevwori understands this philosophy and he has applied it these past 12 months to win both the battle and the war, for the sake of peace; much more, for the sake of his state and his country.

 First published in Sunday Sun