OML 11: Rivers, Abia Communities Reject Oil Firm

Host communities of Oil Mining Lease (OML) 11 in Rivers and Abia States have rejected moves by the federal government to give its operatorship licence to Sahara Energy.

The host communities under the auspices of Ogoni, Asa, Imo River OML11 oil producing communities, also demanded for a dialogue with Nigerian Petroleum Development Company – a subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, before it hands over the operatorship licence to any oil company.

Addressing journalists at Owaza community in Ukwa-East local government area of Abia State, Chairman of the group, Chief Gani Topba, expressed regrets that the host communities remain in penury and abject poverty while multinationals kept making more money.

Topba said: “There have been agitations in this part of OML11 when Shell’s license was about to be renewed. We all gathered here, and did a meeting demanding that Federal Government should not reissued the license.

“We all agreed that the government should give the license to Nigerian Petroleum Company (NPDC). And today, the federal government has given NPDC the license. The community supported NPDC but NPDC need to have proper discussion with the community.

“NPDC have taken over the facility but have not had talks with the community but they are having an agreement with Sahara energy to enter the place. How can NDPC not dialogue with the host communities before bringing in another company.

“The community will not accept Sahara energy, because they had an agreement with NPDC. So NPDC need to come with their plan and discuss with the community then community will now tell them the interest of the community.