The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Nigerian Pipeline Storage company (NPSC) received a warning from the rulers of the Gbramatu Kingdom communities in Delta State over the massive spillages from its trunk line, All Africa reported.

A pipeline operated by NNPC that runs from Escravos to the Warri refinery has been leaking crude since it broke mid August in Delta state. The protest letter threatened to block access to the pipeline unless state oil producer NNPC provides a cleanup and compensation within seven days, according to Reuters. If the demands are not met, the rulers’ statement said: “we would have no other option than to shut down the Escravos to Warri trunk line.”

This comes as Nigeria’s oil production has fallen by 1.8mb/d from 2.2mb/d at the start of 2016 due to attacks by militants. The country’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, is due to meet Niger Delta leaders and representatives of militant groups in Abuja late October or early November to reach an agreement to stop the attacks.

In related news, Egypt Oil&Gas reported earlier that the Nigerian militant group the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) said it had attacked an oil pipeline in Nigeria’s restive southern energy hub and had warned international oil companies (IOCs) not to carry out repairs on damaged energy infrastructure. The federal government of Nigeria had been in negotiations with the NDA to find ways to appease its members and restore oil production to more lucrative levels. The talks had mixed results and did not include other militant groups in the area. The group had said it wanted a greater share of the OPEC member’s wealth to go to the Niger Delta, where most of the country’s crude is produced.