HOST COMMUNITIES FORUM ISSUES 21-DAY ULTIMATUM TO NEPL/NECONDE OVER POOR IMPLEMENTATION OF PIA, DECRIES INCESSANT SPILLS, SHADY PRACTICES 

The OML 42 Host Communities Forum in Warri South-West local government area of Delta State, irked by the failure of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL) and the Neconde Energy Limited to transparently implement the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the companies to speedily begin the implementation process or risk shutdown of their operations in the area.

The Forum also frowned at the failure of NEPL /NECONDE to halt incessant oil spills in the area as well as the companies award of communities-based contracts to their top management staff in direct contravention of the Nigerian Local Content Act.

This was contained in an open letter written to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) by the Forum on Wednesday, 15th March, 2023 and signed on behalf of the 14 host communities in the OML 42 by Winfree Atemubaghan (Chairman, Odidi Field), Francis Ayeku (General Secretary, Jones Creek Field), Chief (Engr.) Samson Oyimi (Public Relations Officer, Batan Field), Victor Tonlagha (Vice Chairman, Egwa 1), Mr Touyo Megbauteran (Asst. Secretary, Egwa 2), Hon. Dr Shadrack Otuaro (Adviser), and Mr Prince Okrikpa (Adviser).

While thanking President Buhari for the bold initiative of ending oil pipelines vandalism, bunkering and pollution in the area through the award of surveillance contract to the Tantita Security outfit owned by High Chief Government Ekpemupolo known popularly as Tompolo, the Forum however lamented the incessant pollution caused by expired pipelines that needed replacements than the sectional repairs planned for by the companies.

The letter reads: "First, we want to sincerely thank and appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR for saving the lives of our people through the awarded pipeline surveillance contracts to Tantita Security, a private and indigenous security outfit, owned by High Chief Government Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo... it is pertinent to state that Tantita Security Services has contributed immensely to the preservation of our environment and the ecosystem, as illegal bunkering activities, pipelines vandalism and pollution of our water bodies has been drastically reduced.

"Mr President, we are constrained to bring to your notice reported plans by NEPL/NECONDE to embark on repair work on sections of the Trans Forcados Pipelines (TFP) which runs from OML 42 to Forcados Terminal in Burutu LGA of Delta State, without recourse to its negative implications to communities and the environment. TFP Pipeline was constructed since early 1960s, and have outlived its useful lifespan long ago leading to continuous pollution of our environment and destruction of our ecosystem, thereby creating hardship for the locals.

"We are strongly appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to save our lives and direct the GCEO NNPC Limited to compel NEPL and NECONDE to commence full replacement of the said pipeline rather than sectional repair works that will not stop further leakages. This line TFP is one of the major lines destroying our environment because it has expired and cannot withstand the pressure of crude oil on the line.

"Therefore, we vehemently reject the section repair works as concurrently contemplated by the NEPL/NECONDE which will continue to leak and continue to destroy our environment that is gradually recovering, thanks to operations of Tantita Security Services," the letter stated.

The Forum also lambasted the NEPL /NECONDE for awarding contracts to their cronies who are posing as local contractors thereby depriving host communities' contractors from not only securing jobs in the area, but from capacity building in the oil industry.

"Mr President, it will interest you to note that all communities-based 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.

"Sir, in line with the Nigerian Local Content Act, all community-based marine and other services contracts should be awarded to indigenous community-based contractors to develop their capacity and expertise to enable them contribute meaningfully to operations of the oil industry particularly OML 42 in Delta State," the Forum added.

On the implementation of the PIA that NEPL /NECONDE has "continuously refused to genuinely, committedly and transparently embark on," the Forum said it "wish to state categorically that OML 42 communities are no longer comfortable with NEPL /NECONDE on the PIA implementation process and other community related issues in the Asset" and "therefore give the Management of NEPL /NECONDE a 21-day ultimatum to commence genuine implementation process of the PIA, failure of which will amount to shutdown of operational activities in the OML 42 Asset."

The Forum in an appeal called on President Buhari "to intervene and compel the Management of NEPL /NECONDE to do what is right and needful, as a matter of urgency, to avoid operational disturbances" as a stitch in time, it says, "saves time."