The Ogbia High Court sitting in Yenagoa has ruled that Otuabagi Community is the host to the first oil well, discovered in commercial quantities in Nigeria.
Presiding Judge, Justice Simon Amaduobogha, who entered the terms of settlement reached by parties, following mediation by the Ijaw National Congress (INC), as consent judgement, also ruled that Oloibiri Museum and Research Centre be sited in Otuabagi, the place where crude oil was first discovered in commercial quantities in 1956.Â
The court, in the suit, marked OHC/10/2021 and instituted by Oloibiri Community against the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bayelsa State Government, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Otuabagi, Otuogidi and Opume communities, further ordered Oloibiri Community to desist from demanding a relocation of the Museum and Research Centre Project or any part thereof since the earmarked project can only be sited where artifacts, such as the first oil well, are located.
Meanwhile, given the ruling, the judgement cannot be appealed. This development has laid to rest an age-long contradiction over the rightful owner of the land where oil was first discovered in commercial quantity and quality in Otuabagi Community in Ogbia Local Council of Bayelsa State in 1956.
Recall that the famous Oloibiri oil field was made up of 21 oil wells. These wells were discovered and named sequentially, starting with the first discovery on January 15, 1956, in Otuabagi, in the then Oloibiri District, Brass Division, in pre-independence Nigeria. Consequently, Otuabagi hosted wells: 1,2, 3 ,5, 7,8,9,10, 11,13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21. Otuogidi hosted well 6 and 12, and Opume hosted well 4. Sadly, Oloibiri Community had none.Â
