The people of Egebekiri community in Nembe Local
Government Area on Thursday protested against neglect by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company
(NAOC) at the oil firm’s fields in the area. .
The residents took their protest to the Obama flow
station operated by the company, disrupting production in oil wells 5, 7, 9 and
12..
Chief Karibi MacDonald, Community Leader in
Egebekiri community, said they were tired of writing letters to official
quarters seeking intervention without any positive response.
MacDonald said that the protest was because the
company has not paid them any form of royalties or related fees due to
them since it started oil exploration in the community over 40 years ago.
The
community leader maintained that a Supreme Court judgment of July 13, 2007 had confirmed them as the legal
owners of the land area hosting the oilfields.
He regretted that NAOC has continued to give their rights and
benefits to some persons in neighbouring communities.
"It is
10 years now since that Supreme Court ruling, and yet, NAOC is yet to show that
they honour the ruling of the Supreme Court.
“They are yet to recognise and deal with us as
landlord of the environment where the company has continued to extract
crude oil from four oil wells in their Obama oilfield", MacDonald said.
Chief Egbe John, one of the protesters, said:
"And today, we are saying we are tired after writing over 30 letters to
various departments including, the Bayelsa State Governor, his special
advisers on oil and gas and security.
“We have also writted to headquarters and sector
commands of the Joint Task Force, Commander, Central Naval Command. Where have
we not written to? Even up to Milan, the head office of Eni", he stated
Also Mrs
Ofabara. Egebe, a daughter of the founder of the community noted that
the community could no longer endure the neglect as they have nothing to show
for being an oil-producing community.
"The
only little compensation made by Agip then was for destruction of economic
trees (by Agip) of which we still have receipt of that payment.
“Nothing more has been given to our community by
way of contracts or royalties as landlord hosting four oil wells operated by
Agip.
"We are
tired of the suffering and injustices meted against us by Agip, that is why we
decided to protest against the injustice today". Egebe said.
When contacted for reaction on the disruption of
oil production at the oilfield, Major Abubakar Abdullahi Spokesman for the Joint
Task Forcein the Niger Delta said the military has since restored normalcy to
the area.
“Well, our mandate is clear and that is to protect oil and gas infrastructure.
“ If any community has issue
against any companyy, let them resolve it legally. JTF will not take any
threats to its mandate.
We handle it professionally within our rules of
engagement.the JTF spokesman said.
Mr Fillippo Cotalini, Media Relations Manager, at
Eni, parent Company of NAOC declined to comment on the development
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