OML30: How Heritage is tackling the challenges of host communities - Investigation

Emerging facts have revealed how Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, HEOSL, operator of Oil Mining Lease OML30, has been tackling challenges confronting it's host communities, with the determination to improving on the lives of the people and development of the host communities.

On March 17, 2017, the management of Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited took over the operatorship of OML30, from Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC.

In 2017, though, Heritage inherited some challenges (Assets and liabilities) which is the normal practice in any transition, the company appears to have done much addressing these issues headlong.

Being a firm committed to human and infrastructural development in OML30, it was gathered that Heritage on Tuesday 7th May, 2019, released N1.2Billion fund for 2018 Global Memorandum of Understanding GMoU, to embark on Community Development "infrastructural" Projects and skill acquisition across the 112 host communities as stated in the GMoU.

Further investigation points that Heritage has made payment of N52,875,000, as 2017 outstanding scholarship funds for secondary schools scholarships, and the readiness to pay balance of N32,850,000 for the tertiary institutions has been lauded by beneficiaries while the renovation of Ehrioke Cottage Hospital already awarded to a community contractor and ongoing. 

Contrary to claims of none engagement of community contractors, findings revealed that Heritage has done well in creating business opportunities for Community Contractors, with 58% of contracts awarded to Community Contractors in compliance with Community Content, a remarkable improvement in community participation in the contracting processes.

On the alleged plan by Heritage to scrap Scholarship scheme for indigenes of host communities, this is not true because it was discovered that Heritage was currently working assiduously to ensure that new scholarship for indigenous students in OML30, will be commissioned before the month of July 2019.

On the alleged disengagement of community workers, a reliable source revealed that those workers that were disengaged had competency issues, conflict of interests and upon investigation and disciplinary actions, some of the workers were reinstated on the merit of their cases, while others fell short of expectations based on company’s policies, irrespective of whether or not such staff are from within HEOSL area of operations (host communities).

Other areas Heritage achieved laudable records include successfully negotiated Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU), implementation of some provisions of the GMoU such as the maintaining the new Freedom to Operate (FTO) rates, Industrial Trainings for OML 30 indigenes, distribution of 2018 end of year gifts items.

Under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) HEOSL made special donations to some communities such as Igbide, Evwreni, Iduwini. Also during the 2018 flood disaster, HEOSL distributed relief materials such as food utems, beddings, medicals and other househols items to Igbide, Emede, Uzere, Olomoro, Enwhe, Owhe, Agbarho, Uwheru among others.

Further investigation indicates that Heritage is determined to do more for members of its host communities in 2019, and to sustain the existing mutual and beneficial relationship  for more business and employments opportunities, CSR projects and investments in human capital development.

Despite the lingering leadership crisis of OML30 Community Development Board, inuagurated on the 14th of December 2018, Heritage has maintained utmost neutrality, but there need to amicably resolve the CDB brohaha because it is proper that Heritage works with a harmonized CDB to enable it implement the GMoU efficiently and effectively to the benefit of the host communities.

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