Tsekelewu community in Egbema Kingdom, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta, today sent a strong warning to the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC/ Elcrest to beware of handling any drilling project in Opuama field Oil Mining Lease(OML) if community does not get 40% of the contract.
President of Tsekelewu Community Welfare Association, Mr. Marvis Ofiyai handed down the warning in a press statement signed and made available to newsmen today in Warri.
Ofiyai stated that the drilling contract in the community might lead to a breach of the existing peace in the area if not well handled by the company and other relevant authorities.
Ofiyai lamented the insensitivity of the oil company to the plight of the community, noting that the people would henceforth get 40 per cent of all the contracts arising from drilling operations in the community, stressing that failure, means there will be no drilling in the area.
Ofiyai accused NPDC of hobnobbing with select communities to the detriment of Tsekelewu community.
“We are informed that a drilling rig project is about to commence in the community,” he said.
Ofiyai stated that Opuama field was hosted by Opuama and Tsekelewu communities at equal basis.
“We are also aware that a drilling operation shall commence soon based on a purported Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) dated February 2015.
“This drilling shall not commence if the Tsekelewu people do not get 40 per cent of the contracts arising from the drilling operations,” he said.
Ofiyai also urged the NPDC to provide the final report of the EIA on the dredging campaign and pipelines replacement going on in the Opuama Field Area, adding that the project was taking it’s toe on the people.
He called for an established MoU between the NPDC and the Tsekelewu people to facilitate development in the community.
According to him,” oil companies were expected to operate in line with best global practice by relating with her host communities through the communities accredited representatives.”
“We demand the duly elected and accredited representatives of Tsekelewu community to be notify and carry along through the bidding process to the award and the execution of contracts.
“The draft EIA for the proposed Seven appraisal wells within the Opuama Field in OML40 should be upturned and the entire process cancelled until NPDC does the proper thing,” he said
He also appeal to the Federal and Delta State Governments, International communities to prevail on NPDC/Elcrest to do the needful to avert the looming crisis.
Contacted on the phone, a top official of the External Relations Department, NPDC Benin City, who craved anonymity said, “There is no operation going on there now. But we have been meeting with them. They have not showed us any document. If they have any issue, they should send it and we will attend to it.”
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