Energy companies warn of demonstrations amid claims of exploitation of native subcontractors

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By Daniel Abia

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Two Port Harcourt-based firms, ELC Oil and Gas Services and Chiefest Nigeria Limited, have threatened to embark on a protest over the alleged nonpayment of over N1 billion debt for contracts executed years ago.

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The firms said they regretted the negative impact the debt has caused to their staff, some of whom had fallen sick, while others are unable to adequately take care of their families as they have not been paid for nearly a year.

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Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt, the chief executive officer and managing director of ELC Oil and Gas Services Limited, Chelsea Enebeli, and the managing director of Chiefest, Jerry Mmanwoke, narrated that the firms supplied fuel and other petroleum products to Oando Plc in 2024 and have since not been paid.

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Enebelli claimed that he supplied PMS and diesel to the company in 2024 after borrowing a huge sum of money from the banks and other financial institutions. “Oando had not thought it wise to pay the money. Banks and other financial institutions where we borrowed the money have been on our necks.

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“We owe banks so much money. The interest on that money since 2024 has accumulatively spiked. Every kobo Oando paid us by instalment, the banks will just take everything because of the money we borrowed and used to execute the jobs for Oando.

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“As we speak, things are so bad that we hardly take care of family needs. Staff have not been paid for more than seven months. Last year, I had to undergo an operation and my wife borrowed money for the surgery to save my life, yet the company I supplied goods for has refused to pay me,” Enebeli lamented.

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In a letter dated April 2, 2026, titled “Request for Immediate Payment of Outstanding Invoices”, to the management of Oando Plc, ELC Oil and Gas demanded immediate settlement of the outstanding payment owed.

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“We require that the payment be made immediately without further delay. Should this not occur, we will instruct our lawyers to formally write to you to pursue this matter or I will be at your Port Harcourt Base with my family, including my children and staff who are yet to be paid for six months now.

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“Do well to mobilise everything and everyone at your disposal, because my family, staff and I will not leave your premises until payment is received,” the letter read.

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Enebeli lamented that it was unfortunate that invoices of 2024 were yet to be settled and that he had not been able to pay his suppliers. “Some of our properties have been taken over due to debt,” he decried.

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He, however, called on well-meaning Nigerians and the National Assembly to enact legislation that would protect the business interests of indigenous contractors from being undermined by some privileged companies.

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Efforts to reach the group managing director, GMD, of Oando, Solomon Agba, for comments failed.

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