Neconde Energy Denies Impoverishing Niger Delta Host Communities

A foremost independent oil and gas company, Neconde Energy Limited, has dismissed allegations that it was deleting the resources of its host communities in Delta State.

The oil company spoke following a report by the FocalPoint blog that the firm, which is a Joint Venture partner of the NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL) on the OML 42 Oil Asset, was impoverishing the people of Niger Delta through its operations.

According to a statement signed by its legal department, Neconde Energy Ltd said the claims were “not only false and unfortunate but are a product of blackmailers.”

It said it decided to let the public know because “Remaining silent when truth is viciously violated by falsehood is not a strong suit of the promoters of Neconde Energy Ltd.”

“Thus, when wilful and harmful falsehood masquerading as investigative journalism by a blog, FocalPoint Reports, alleged that Neconde Energy Ltd was impoverishing its host communities in the Delta, the company’s management now seeks to set the records straight,” it noted.

Tthe company, which has been managing the OML 42 oil asset as a joint venture partner of the NNPC Exploration and Production Limited, (NEPL) since 12 years ago, affirmed that, “While we understand that any reasonably informed Nigerian or organization need not dig too deep to ascertain the true situation in OML42; the growing audacity of Ezekiel Kagbala (FocalPoint Reports) and the clandestine sponsors of his publications, in what appears to be an increasing display of willful intent to misinform the public and a malicious intent to malign business and persons; necessitates those records are set straight.”

It asserted that it will not be deterred from its zero tolerance for corruption in the running of the asset and insistence on transparent developmental programmes such as the full implementation of the PIA (Petroleum Industry Act) for the benefit of the host communities.

“Monies meant for developing the community must be deployed solely for that purpose. It must not enter private pockets. This is our stand,” the statement stated.

Continuing, the company, which has invested significant amounts in the asset with the support of astute professionals, businesses, and financial institutions without blemish, stated that the Nigerian Petroleum Industry Act 2021 makes provisions for host communities that encourage social and economic development and aims to promote cooperation between the host communities and the petroleum asset operators.

The firm further reiterated that the PIA act stipulates that settlors (NEPL for OML 42) are required to make an annual contribution to the applicable community of 3% of its actual operating expenditure of the preceding year in the upstream petroleum operation affecting the community but, “The non-implementation of the law to support the development of the community within OML 42 is best provided by the accountable managers for OML 42 in the employ of NNPC Exploration and Production Limited, (NEPL).”

This, notwithstanding, the company said that before the PIA, it had funded the GMOU implementation and sustained the peace bonus that supported the payment of allowances to teachers in OML 42 communities, electrification projects, riverine school boats for primary schools, and training of community workers who have now been converted to E & P field professionals in OML 42 among other things.

While describing the reports as ‘greed-driven contract racketeering in collusion with certain elements’, Neconde Energy Ltd stated that the community leadership, opinion leaders, and responsible members of the community have condemned and dissociated themselves from the false reports.

The company maintained that the sustained blackmail of private investors and institutions would not deter it from doing only what is right, as it urged the public to disregard the falsehood being peddled by the people it described as ‘”bastions of perfidy.”