OML 40: Eghoro Community threatens fresh shutdown of Elcrest’s operations over non recognition as host

· Accuses Elcrest of taking advantage of government’s ‘nonchalant attitude’


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OML 40: Eghoro Community threatens fresh shutdown of Elcrest’s operations over non recognition as host


 

Indigenes of Eghoro Community in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, have issued a fresh 14-day ultimatum to shut down operations of Elcrest Exploration and Production Limited, operators of OML 40 Gbetieokun Field, over failure of the company to recognize the community as its genuine host after an initial 21-day ultimatum handed down to the company.

Report says the company embarked on a fresh dredging operations in the field, despite expiration of the earlier 21-day ultimatum handed them by the community.

While blaming government for failing to summon a meeting between Elcrest, Eghoro and Berisibe Communities over claims of hosting rights as requested, Eghoro indigenes accused Elcrest of taking advantage of government’s “nonchalant attitude”, to undermine their request.   

Fresh Angle International can authoritatively report that in a letter addressed to Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Eghoro indigenes maintained that they have all documents supporting their claim to “right of being the main host community to OML 40 Gbetieokun Field as opposed to the claim of Berisibe Community”, who they claimed have been, “unduly enjoying the privileges of host community”.

According to them, Eghoro is Gazetted and recognized by Nigerian Petroleum Development Company NPDC, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, which reportedly divested the OML 40 Facility to Elcrest through Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC.

The letter signed by a 9-man accredited representatives of Eghoro Community, Messrs: Nicholas Efele, Festus Ashima, Reinnett Yemiete, Austine Ayioghunoritsede, Kenneth Atsedegho,  Bawo Edema Esq., Duris Orugbo, Monday Omagbemi and Kanu Duakpemi, insisted that “Berisibe is only being carried along as neighbor in the Oil Field to give them a sense of belonging”, expressing regret “that Elcrest chose to align with Berisibe to accord them full rights and privileges of host community and neglecting, oppressing and depriving Eghoro of our legitimate and fundamental rights and privileges”.

They averred that Berisibe’s claim of being original host community and recognized by SPDC is “bogus and has no foundation in truth and that is why they are calling for security presence in the community and have been taking sides with Elcrest in instituting and entrenching the abnormality and aberration”.

The Eghoro Community leaders explained that their decision to extend the 21-day ultimatum, by issuing a fresh fourteen-day warning with effect from Friday August 9, was to create the required conducive atmosphere for government to wade into the brewing crisis.


Copyright: Fresh Angle International (www.freshangleng.com)
ISSN 2354 - 4104


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Emma Arubi
Warri Freelance Correspondent
Read other stories by Emma Arubi

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