DELTA: Implement PIA or face our wrath, Polobubo community tells Conoil
By Chairman Ojumiri
The people of oil-rich Tsekelewu (Polobubo) community in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta state, has handed down fourteen (14) days ultimatum to Conoil Producing Limited, to come up with visible plan to implement Chapter 3 of 2021 Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) for Tsekelewu (Polobubo) Host Community and Bloc of Communities – OML 103, or face the wrath of the people.
The ultimatum was contained via a statement dated Wednesday, January 4, 2023, jointly signed by Dr. Abulu Bright and Rev. Tiemo-Doyah Clement, President General and General Secretary, Tsekelewu Community Development Association respectively and made available to GbaramatuVoice in Warri, Delta state.
According to the community, the 14 days ultimatum became necessary because the community adopted the option due to seemingly snobbish attitude of the management of Conoil Producing as the company’s management had refused to honour letters asking for a meeting with the TCDA on the issue of the PIA implementation.
Aside from not having any visible plan to implement Chapter 3 of 2021 Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in Tsekelewu (Polobubo) Host Community, they also accused Conoil Producing Limited of inability to provide the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the ongoing massive dredging as demanded by the community.
Read statement reads in part; “It is worrisome that your company declined to respond to our request for over eight months and no visible plan to implement Chapter 3 of 2021 Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in Tsekelewu (Polobubo) Host Community and Bloc of Communities- OML 103.
“This is an outright violation of the Chapter 3 of the 2021 Petroleum Industry Act and Nigeria Upstream Host Communities Development Regulation 2022
“Please be informed that about 100 members of our Tsekelewu community was at your ongoing dredging site and met with Mr. Shola O on December 28, 2022 and asked him to informed Mr. Richard (Conoil CLO) and Conoil Producing Limited Management of our displeasure and deep hanger over the refusal of Conoil to implement chapter 3 of the 2021 Petroleum Industry Act for Tsekelewu (Polobubo) and her bloc of communities. That Conoil Management should schedule a meeting with us before January 10, 2023 to avoid stoppage of the ongoing dredging. We visited Mr. Shola O on December 29, 2022 to reiterate our demand and he confirmed us that the message has been delivered to Mr. Richard and Conoil management accordingly.
“It is regrettably that up till now Conoil management has not get across to the leadership of Tsekelewu (Polobubo) Development Association (The apex body in Tsekelewu community) saddled with the responsibility to implement Chapter 3 of the 2021 Petroleum Industry Act and Nigeria Upstream Host Communities Development Regulation 2022 for Tsekelewu community. You have violated the PIA act {(section 236 (a), (d) and (e)} and Regulations (9), (24, 2) and (36 a-e) with impunity despite your ongoing massive dredging activities with its negative resultant environmental impact, negative impact on our sources of livelihood and existence.
“The Tsekelewu community at its end of year 2022 general meeting held in Tsekelewu town on December 28, 2022 resolved as follows:
“That Conoil Producing Limited should engage the leadership of Tsekelewu Community Development Association (Former Tsekelewu National Council) to implement chapter 3 of the 2021 Petroleum Industry Act for Tsekelewu (Polobubo) and her bloc of communities on or before Jan 10, 2023. Failure to comply shall lead to stoppage of Conoil Producing Limited ongoing dredging activities by Tsekelewu community.
“That Conoil Producing Limited should provide to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the ongoing massive dredging on or before Jan 10, 2023.
“Please kindly schedule a meeting with the leadership of Tsekelewu community Development Association to put processes and timelines for the successful execution of Chapter 3 of the 2021 Petroleum Industry Act and Nigeria Upstream Host Communities Development Regulation 2022 for Tsekelewu community on or before January 10, 2023.
Support Quality Journalism in the Niger Delta Region
Join us in our mission to bring development journalism, cultural preservation, and environmental awareness to the forefront. Your contribution makes a difference in the lives of the people of the Niger Delta. Donate today and be a part of the change!
