Nyerhovwo Oghenetejiri
Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil & Gas (HOSTCOM), Urhobo Ethnic Nationality chapter has staged a peaceful and warning protest against the management of Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) over neglect and other lingering unresolved issues at Utorogun Gas Plant.
Leading the protest that took workers and security operatives guarding the gas facility by surprise, Com. Efe G. Okovwurie, chairman, Urhobo Ethnic Nationality chapter of HOSTCOM disclosed that the group members drawn from ten Urhobo speaking local government areas that includes Patani and Warri South would in no distant time without warning again shut down the operations of the Gas Plant until all lingering issues are resolved.
While further disclosing that the people are running out of patience, Com. Okovwurie said that one Mr. L.B.N Johnson, Security Manager has been playing on their intelligence over the Utorugun Zone ‘C’ Surveillance and Grass cutting contract, he alleged that the said Mr. Johnson is planning to issue contract renewal to the contractor handling the job against the wish and stiff resistance of the people of Otor-Udu, Ukpiovwin and Oghior communities that have recommended another contractor for the job.
Com. Okovwurie accused NPDC of frustrating their efforts in meeting with “Sleeping Partners” that acquired OML 26, 30 and 34, this according to him has slowed down development in the communities as well as deny them opportunity for effective implementation of GMoU just as he also accused the management of refusing to meet with them to sort out all lingering unresolved issues.
Com. Okovwurie listed some of the unresolved issues to include equity shares participation by them i.e release of two and half per cent of shares to the host communities, release of one day production in every thirty days for the host communities to cushion the negative effect of exploration and exploitation of oil and gas, award of the Federal Government Pipeline Surveillance and Intelligence Information Gathering Contract for all oil and gas facilities in Urhobo nation to them, creation of a contract department office in the Edjeba Office of the NPDC to take care of all contractors in Delta State as they are tired of travelling to Benin City, Edo state to do business in facilities in their backyard and review the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) .
According to Com. Okovwurie, “delay in contract payment has crippled a lot of NPDC contractors from the host communities as interests on monies borrowed from banks to execute projects and payment of workers’ salaries have eaten up profits that ought to have accrued to them. Some are now indebted to banks. We insist that Abura Flow station be constructed for Udu Local Government Area in OML 65 to be located in the production communities. Udu is the only Local Government Area with two Oil Mining Leases (OML 34 and 65) but without a single flow station to calculate its production quantum”
Some of the placards they carried reads, “NPDC, we need equity participation,” “From now on, we shall not give NPDC notice to shut down this place until our demands are met,” “NPDC release one day production in every thirty days for host communities.” “NPDC, review the GMoU for OML 34” among many others.
Contacted on phone for comments, a senior staff of the External Relations Department of NPDC, Benin who said that he is not competent to speak and should not be quoted said that he would get back to yours truly after clarifications from Abuja office but as at the time of going to press, he is yet to respond to text messages and phones calls to his mobile line.
