In Umuorie Asa-Isimiri Autonomous Community, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, the air is thick with frustration. Chief Ugochukwu Mbagwu, a prominent leader and advocate for his people, expresses deep anguish over the prolonged neglect and abandonment his community has endured a stark irony for a land rich in crude oil resources.
Mbagwu, who has served in various capacities including as a cabinet chief, Treasurer of the Council of Chiefs, Chairman of the King’s Arbitration Panel, and Vice President General of Umuorie, laments how the dreams of his youth have faded due to successive government failures. Despite Umuorie’s significant contributions to Nigeria’s crude oil production, the community remains trapped in poverty, poor infrastructure, and political marginalization.
A History of Neglect
Umuorie is officially the second-largest oil-producing community in Abia State, behind Owaza Town. With one active flow station — the Isimiri Flow Station — and 21 functional oil wells, Umuorie plays a vital role in Nigeria’s oil economy. Yet, since the days of the old Imo State, the community has struggled for formal recognition as an oil-producing area.
“The government keeps drilling oil from our land while refusing to acknowledge our status,” Mbagwu said, voicing the frustration of many. “There’s no single project by the Abia State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (ASOPADEC) here. Only an abandoned NDDC water project and a few streetlights are visible.”
Following Shell Petroleum Development Company’s exit, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) has taken over operations, but little has changed for the people of Umuorie.
Endless Problems
Pastor Ikechukwu Ogbonna, another vocal community leader, echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the complete absence of basic amenities: no electricity, no functioning roads, no secondary school, and only a dilapidated primary school struggling with security issues and an acute shortage of teachers.
Ogbonna explained the deep-rooted political marginalization facing Umuorie. Despite its economic importance, political representation continues to elude the community. Positions meant for Ozzah West Zone where Umuorie belongs are often diverted to neighboring towns.
“When it’s time to share opportunities, Umuorie is always sidelined,” Ogbonna lamented. “We produce so much oil, yet we are treated as if we don’t exist.”
He stressed that by law, Umuorie should have representation in ASOPADEC, pointing out that only a basic academic qualification like the West African Senior School Certificate (WASSC) is needed for appointment, yet their people are ignored.
An Appeal to Governor Alex Otti
While acknowledging Governor Alex Otti’s early positive strides, Ogbonna and Mbagwu passionately appealed to him to intervene and end the decades-long marginalization of Umuorie.
“We plead with Governor Otti to ensure Umuorie is fairly represented in ASOPADEC and other agencies. Development thrives on justice and equity,” Ogbonna said. “Let him remember his own experiences with marginalization and respond to our cry.”
They also requested urgent government action to rehabilitate the community’s health facilities, provide electricity, rebuild the road network, and restore public confidence.
Environmental and Social Devastation
The environmental toll of oil exploration has been devastating. Farmlands have become infertile, making food production almost impossible. Flooding worsens during the rainy season, forcing residents to “swim” to their homes, Mbagwu noted bitterly.
Community Primary School Umuorie, the only educational facility, is in shambles. According to the Headmistress, Mrs. Blessing Uloelu, security lapses have led to rampant looting, while the lack of water and insufficient teaching staff have crippled learning.
Failed Efforts and Resort to Litigation
Repeated letters, meetings, and appeals to ASOPADEC, successive Abia State governments, and federal representatives have gone unanswered. Frustrated, the community has turned to the courts.
Chief Innocent Mbagwu and Pastor Ikechukwu Ogbonna, representing Umuorie, filed a lawsuit (Suit No: HUK/06/2025) against the Governor of Abia State, the Sole Administrator/General Manager of ASOPADEC, and ASOPADEC itself, alleging neglect and unlawful governance practices at the Commission.
Key issues raised include:
– The illegality of appointing a Sole Administrator to head ASOPADEC instead of a duly constituted board.
– The lack of disbursement of derivation funds to Umuorie.
– The complete absence of ASOPADEC projects in the community.
Their case is backed by findings from the Abia State House of Assembly. In 2022, a House Committee on ASOPADEC and Petroleum Matters, chaired by Hon. Godwin Adiele, confirmed Umuorie’s status as Abia’s second-largest oil-producing community and recommended urgent governmental intervention. However, nearly all the recommendations have been ignored.
Ongoing Legal and Political Battles
Multiple Pre-Action Notices were served to ASOPADEC and the Abia State government between 2021 and 2024. Meetings were convened, including one hosted by ASOPADEC’s Sole Administrator in 2022, but yielded no tangible outcomes.
The Umuorie Town Union, supported by all nine village heads and other stakeholders, submitted letters proposing qualified candidates for ASOPADEC appointments. Still, no action was taken, further deepening the sense of betrayal among the people.
Conclusion
Despite its vast contributions to Nigeria’s oil sector, Umuorie remains a community in distress. Its leaders and residents continue to hope that Governor Alex Otti, once a victim of political injustice himself, will heed their cries for fairness and inclusion.
Umuorie’s struggle is not just about political appointments; it is a call for basic human dignity, infrastructural development, and rightful recognition.
