••• GOVERNMENT SCHEDULES MEETING FOR MONDAY
•••TENSION RISES AGAINST OIL FIRM IN AROGBO IJAW
Barely a day after the Arogbo Ijaw community of Ondo State cried out to the Federal Government over what it considers provocative actions of Con Oil, the company’s operational rig has been seized by another aggrieved riverine community in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The people of Olubakagbene in Warri North Local Govt Area of Delta State seized the rig which was on its way to its Con Oil 4 operational base in the protesting and aggrieved Asere, community in Arogbo Ijaw Area of Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
As at the time of filing this report, the community members comprising women and children are in the creek where they blocked the rig from passing through to Asere community in Arogbo Ijaw.
One of the leaders of the community who spoke on behalf of the community, Chief Ghana Tilikiwei, said that a company called Enesco took swamp buggy amphibious excavator to the village and started uprooting Economic trees and houses without any discussion.
He said that the jolted community was told by the company that they were working on the directive of CON Oil to expand the water way to create access for its rig which was to be moved to it planned operational base at Asere community in Arogbo Ijaw, Ondo State.
According to him, the enraged family contacted a law firm in Warri and got a valuer for the damage done to the properties and the environment.
He stated that in spite of the fact that the management of Con Oil acknowledged receipt of the evaluation report, no meeting was called until Friday when the rig appeared and was seized.
Other leaders of the community, Pastor Tilikiwei, Paul Macaulay and Everlast Tilikiwei insisted that Con Oil moved their equipment into the community without an environmental impact assessment and a memorandum of understanding.
The Network investigation reveal that that Delta State Government has called for a meeting with the community and the oil firm on Monday.
The office of Commissioner for Oil and Gas wrote to invite the community to a meeting where the grievances are meant to addressed
“I am directed to refer to your letter dated 16 August, 2022 on the above subject and to invite your Community to meeting with the Hon. Commissioner scheduled for Monday 29th August, 2022 at 11:00am prompt at the Conference Hall, Ministry of Oil and Gas, Prof. Chike p Secretariat, Maryam Babangida Way, Asaba.
“This meeting is to address concerns raised by your host Communities about the operations of Conoil Company with a view to arresting the growing tensions that could degenerate into a very serious breakdown of law and order in your Community.”
The letter written by Engineer CC Nwamah, was dated August 25, 2022.
The seizure of the rig follows an alarm raised by the Akure and Lagos chapters of the Ijaw National Congress and the Arogbo Ijaw Central Organisation that Con Oil was moving into the community for its oil production activities without discussing with the owners of the land.
In a joint statement on Thursday, leaders of the communities, Hon.Bonsuwe Ogonobibi Ominidougha, Chairman, Ijaw National Congress(INC), Akure, Ondo State Chapter, Pastor Ebitimi Dio- Posibi, Chairman, INC, Lagos State Chapter and Dr( Deac.) James Ashida, Chairman, Arogbo-Ijaw Community, Organization (AICO),
said that the action of the oil firm was a threat to peace and security in the area.
They called on the Federal Government to come to take urgent steps to intervene to prevent crisis in the area.
The Ijaw National Congress and the community leaders alleged that Conoil Producing Limited is moving into operations in the area without adherence to the procedures and regulations guiding the Petroleum Industry Act such as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) done by representatives of the Department Of Petroleum Resources Federal Ministry Of Environment, Land Owners and the immediate community
The leaders cried out that Conoil Producing Limited blatantly refused to directly negotiate with landowners , (the Asere community) which is host to the oil company’s planned operations despite all efforts.
They added that the action has generated a lot of protests, which have been countered with brutal use of force and intimidation.
They warned that the oppressive tactics deployed by the company to arrest, detain and brutalize protesters who are sons and daughters of the community constitute a threat to peace.
The statement stressed that all the efforts and several attempts to resolve the issues raised by the leaders of the communities were ignored.
The leaders added that their attempts to meet with Conoil Producing Limited at its headquarters in Lagos were met with utter disdain and hostile rejections.
“We want to notify the Nigerian Government and the world at large that Conoil Producing Limited’s Impending Oil Operations in Asere Community, Arogbo-Kingdom, Ese-Odo Local Government Area,Ondo State has constituted threats to peace and security
“This is necessitated by the company’s Fire Brigade Approach without due process.
“It is very curious and surprising that Conoil Producing Limited is about forcing its way into operations without fulfilling the necessary procedures and regulations guiding the Petroleum Industry as contained in the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021 with particular reference to sections 251 and 252 of the Act which state as follow:
“The Conoil Producing Limited has not directly negotiated with Land Owners, the Host Community (Asere Community). This has generated a lot of protests which have been countered by arrests and the use of naked and brute force against protesters
“That up till today there is no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in place. The EIA must be done by the Department Of Petroleum Resources (DPR) certified consultants which involve the DPR Representatives, Federal Ministry Of Environment, Land Owners and the immediate community.
“That there is no Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with Land Owners, the Host Community and the larger community in specific terms.
“That there is no Freedom To Operate (FTO) agreement which involves the Land Owners, immediate community, Access communities, and the larger community. (Arogbo-Kingdom)
“As these unpalatable situations came to the fore, we, under the auspices of Ijaw National Congress( INC) Akur, Ondo State Chapter, Ijaw National Congress (INC), Lagos State Chapter and Arogbo-Ijaw Community Organization (AICO) as leaders of our people made several attempts to resolve the issues raised but all to no avail
“Our attempts to meet with Conoil Producing Limited at its headquarters in Lagos were greeted with utter disdain and hostile rejections.
“As a result of this, we hereby, unreservedly submit that Conoil Producing Limited should suspend its planned operations in Asere community pending when all the issues mentioned above are amicably resolved.
“We call on all authorities concerned to give this cry the needed urgent attention and prevail on Conoil Producing Limited to settle with the stakeholders before its operations in order not to cause disaffection, confusion and conflict in our communities.” The said
