OML 42: Ijaw communities storm Odidi Flow Station, protest non-implementation of PIA, pipeline leakages, others
…Threaten to shutdown OML 42 operations
The people of Odidi and Kantu communities in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta state, on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, protested what they described as the non-implementation of Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) by the oil exploration and production companies operating in Oil Mining Lease (OML 42) in the state.
The protesters at the Odidi Flow Station made up of youths and women, from the communities carried placards with varying inscriptions gave the management of NNPC E&P Limited – NEPL and NECONDE ENERGY a seven-day ultimatum within which to commence genuine implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act process and payment of the 3% of 2022 Operating Expenses as stipulated by the PIA with immediate effect or face the wrath of the people of the community.
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Decrying the “continuous destruction and degradation of the environment and their means of livelihood”, they said the protest and ultimatum were “To enable resumption of implementation of developmental projects in the communities, failure of which may lead to the shutdown of operational activities in the entire OML42 in Delta State”.
The aggrieved protesters appealed to the President Muhammadu Buhari to, as a matter of urgency, save their lives “by directing Mr. Mele Kyari, the Group CEO of NNPC Limited, Engr. Muhammad Ali Zarah, MD NEPL, and Mr. Monday Okoro, MD, NECONDE Energy Ltd., to commence full replacement of the said pipelines instead of the sectional repair works being planned by NEPL/NECONDE without recourse to its negative implications on communities and the environment, since sectional repair works will not stop further leakages”.
They claimed that the leaking Trans Forcados Pipeline which was constructed in the early 1960s “has outlived its life span long ago, leading to continuous pollution of our environment and destruction of our ecosystem, creating hardship for the locals.”
Inscriptions on their placards included ‘OML42 Communities protest against NPDC/NECONDE management over non-implementation of PIA’; ‘Replace Trans Forcados Pipeline (TFP) now, to save our environment’; ‘Stop treating host community workers with less value’; ‘We demand scholarships, employment for host communities’; ‘Stop hijacking host communities contracts’.
Also, in a statement jointly signed by Mr. Windfree Atemubaghan and Prince Preye Okrikpa, the Chairman of Kantu/OML42 Communities Forum and the Chairman, Odidi Federated Communities respectively, they noted with concern that “the aging Trans Forcados Pipeline has been destroying our environment because it has expired and cannot withstand the pressure of crude oil transported through it”.
The statement further canvassed for the award of all community-based marine and other service contracts to indigenous contractors, in line with the Nigeria Local Content Act, “to develop their capacity and expertise so that they can contribute meaningfully to the operations of the oil industry, particularly in OML 42 in Delta State”.
The statement alleged that “all community-based marine and other service contracts are being awarded to top management staff of NEPL and NECONDE Energy Limited, using their cronies as community vendors, thereby depriving indigenous contractors of patronage”.
They noted that the protest became imperative after the host communities’ executive members “had made several complaints and representations as well as meetings with the management of NEPL/NECONDE with a view to addressing the issues, but all efforts proved abortive”.
The statement reads in part; “That we strongly reject the sectional repair works on the Trans Forcados Pipeline (TFP) which runs through OML 42 in Warri South West LGA to Forcados Terminal in Burutu LGA of Delta State, as currently being planned by the NEPL/NECONDE. We appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to save our lives by directing Mr. Mele Kyari, GCEONNPC Limited, Engr. Muhammad Ali Zarah, MD NEPL , and Mr. Monday Okoro, MD NECONDE ENERGY LIMITED to commence full replacement of the said pipeline instead of the sectional repair works being planned by NEPL/NECONDE without recourse to it negative implications on communities and the environment, since sectional repair works will not stop further leakages.
“The TFP pipeline was constructed early 1960’s and has outlived its life spam long ago leading to continuous pollution of our environment and destruction of our ecosystem, creating hardship for the locals. The TFP is one of the major pipelines destroying our environment because it has expired and cannot withstand the pressure of crude oil transported through it.
“That Kantu and Odidi Communities in OML 42 are no longer comfortable with NEPL/ NECONDE on the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA process, and other community related issues in the Asset. NNPC E&P Limited (NEPL) and Neconde Energy Limited have continuously refused to genuinely and transparently embark on implementing the PIA process. We therefore, give the management of NEPL/ NECONDE a 7-day ultimatum to commence genuine implementation of the PIA process and payment of the 3% of 22 operating expenses as stipulated by the PIA with immediate effect to enable the communities resume implementation of developmental projects in the communities, failure of which may lead to the shut down of operational activities in the OML 42 Asset.
“That in line with the Nigeria Local Content Act, all community based marine and other service contracts should be awarded to indigenous contractors to developed their capacity and expertise so that they can contribute meaningfully to the operations of the oil Industry particularly in OML 42 in Delta State.
“Your Execelency, we have observed that all community based contracts are being awarded to top management of NEPL and Neconde Energy Limited, using their cronies as community vendors, thereby depriving indigenous contractors of patronage. We strongly appeal to Mr. President to intervene by calling Mele Kyari, GCEO, NNPCL to instruct Ali Muhammad Zarah and Mr. Monday Okoro, MD Necode Energy in this regard by compelling the management of NEPL/NECONDE to urgently do what is right and needful, to avoid operational disturbance.
Responding, the site superintendent of NECONDE, Engr. Ekene Onyenekwe and the NPDC representative at the Flow Station, Engr. Ayodeji Ayinde, commended the host communities for their peaceful disposition promising to take their grievances “to the appropriate quarters, and follow it up”.
By Chairman Ojumiri & Samuel Abai
See photos below:
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