UGHELLI – About 28 host communities in OML34, Delta State have issued a 5 day ultimatum to shut down the operations of ND-Western E&P Company and NNPC E&P Limited over the companies continued negligence, failure and refusal to fulfill the mandatory obligations to the aggrieved host communities.

The notice for peaceful protest and shut down of operations was contained in a letter to the Managing Director of NNPC E&P Limited and Chief Operating Officer of ND-Western.

The letter was signed by the chairmen and president generals of the 28 host communities, which includes Michael Oghenegueke, Pastor Moses Bekaren, Rufus Onokurefe, Francis Uzoh, Nuwawa Alledy, Okorodudu Solomon and 22 others.

According to them, “we are demanding for payment of outstanding penalty fines due the 28 host communities from the expired GMoU of 1^st January, 2016 to 31^st December, 2019. Also, the payment of penalty fines of N6,250,000 representing 5% of the Project Fund for the belated payment of the 2^nd tranche of 2022 recently paid in the fourth week of October, 2022 after 3 months of grace from 1^st January to 30^th September 2022, as provided for in the relevant GMoU documents.”

They added, “we are demanding for payment of the accumulated scholarship arrears spanning through a period of four years, alternatively, the company should provide proof of awardees duly paid and records of those outstanding.”

The aggrieved communities spoke further, “the company has not released forms for new awards of scholarship to any of the 28 host communities and has not also awarded any scholarship in OML-34 for the past three consecutive years. More so, the company has not paid the OML-34 project funds to Ughevwughe, Iwhrekreka and Otor-Edo communities for the past six years.”

The communities also demanded for immediate commencement of the company’s skill acquisition programme for participants nominated by communities long ago as well as commencement of training of persons nominated for the GMoU Capacity building programme.

The communities includeincludees Otor-Udu, Ekakpamre, Otor Edo, Ivwrekan, Ughevwughe, Effurun-Otor Eruemukohwoarien among others.

Attempt to get reactions from ND-Western met brick wall as phone calls to staff were not answered and only one picked by a man who refused to identify himself said that he is not in a position to speak to the press on such matters. (Daily Independent)

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