Delta wades into conflict between indigenous oil firm, host communities

By Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

To avert the imminent shutdown of over 90, 000 barrel per day oil production in Oil Mining Lease 30, the Delta state government has waded into the face-off between Heritage Oil Company and over 112 oil bearing communities.

The communities have issued a 7-day ultimatum to Heritage Oil Company and its subsidiaries to vacate its territory or face the wrath of the people.

Speaking through the President General of Ewvreni Community, Chief Victor Ohare, who also doubles as the chairman of president generals’ forum of OML 30 during a meeting with the state attorney-general and commissioner for justice to air their grievances with the oil exploration company, accused oil firm of breaching all the terms contained in the agreement signed between the communities and the oil company.

Chief Victor accused Heritage Oil Company and its subsidiaries of using security agencies to intimidate, harass and suppress the agitations of oil bearing communities, listing some of the atrocities committed by the company to include, the non- employment of indigenes, the regular disengagements of those already working with the company and the non-payment of scholarship to indigenes from 2014 till date.

He further Heritage of a systemic ploy to phase out its scholarship scheme and vowed to resist the oppressive tendencies of the company, awarding contracts, including pipeline surveillance and other maintenance services to foreigners and their cronies, thereby totally neglecting the principle of local content.

According to him, all attempts to invite the company to a round table discussion to resolve the misunderstanding between them has been rebuffed by the company, hence the ultimatum.

Delta state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Peter Mrakpor, while addressing the delegation of the aggrieved communities, thanked them for not resorting to violence in driving home their demands.

He explained the process it took the state government to supervise the negotiation process which he said was transparent and painstaking, saying that the memorandum of understanding was the collective will of all the parties involved.

Mrakpor, who expressed sadness over the development, however, assured them that government will urgently wade into the matter and that it would be resolved as soon as possible to forestall breach of the peace in the state and the disruption of oil production.

The commissioner appealed to the communities to maintain the peace and allow the state government engage the company and bring all parties to a round table.

The 112 host communities where Heritage Oil operates Oil Mining Lease 30, are from the Urhobo, Ijaw, Itsekiri and Isoko ethnic group.