Two oil-producing towns in Bayelsa State have threatened to shut down the operations of Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) over its alleged refusal to honour a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Leaders of Ogboinbiri and Azuzuama, the affected areas, gave the warning at the weekend during a march to the President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Eric Omare.
Led by Tari Okoso and Walter Job-Molo, the communities informed the IYC youth leader that Agip had refused to comply with the MoU and was in the habit of deploying military personnel to the area whenever they demanded for their right.
The host communities noted that part of the agreement was for the company to carry out developmental projects that would enhance the quality of life of residents of their areas of operation.
“We have been pushed to the wall and we have issued an ultimatum to shut down Agip operations in the communities by asking Agip workers to leave,” they said.
The communities also complained of recurring oil spillage by the company in the affected communities without payment of compensation and thereafter resorting to “persistent military harassment.”
The youths recalled that in 2007, “the mismanagement of an MoU by Agip in Ogboinbiri community led to the death of more than 67 persons including security personnel.”
They added that a fire incident at Azuzuama community “from the negligence of Agip in 2015 led to the death of several persons including Late Linus Epunumokumor in respect of which Agip has refused to pay compensation to the family up till date.”
Responding, Omare urged the oil company to comply with the MoU entered with its host communities and observe international best practices in the oil and gas industry.
He appealed to Governor Seriake Dickson and the federal government to prevail on Agip to respect the MoU “to avoid a violent shut down of operations with grave security and economic implications.”
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