Allege insensitivity by SEEPCO, NAOC

By Festus Ahon & Ochuko Akuopha

ASABA—NDOKWA people, under the aegis of Ndokwa East Coastal Communities, Delta State, have layed siege to Ndokwa East Local Government Council Secretariat, Aboh, in protest against Sterling Energy and Exploration Production Limited, SEEPCO,  and Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC, over their alleged  non-compliance with the Local Content Act.

The protesters, numbering over 200, made up of youths, women and men, accused SEEPCO of allegedly defrauding the state and people by refusing to relocate its corporate head office from Lagos to the community where it operates.

The people, during the protest which lasted over three hours, called on the Federal Government to come to their aid.

Urging the companies to recognise Umu-Ugboma community in Aboh as a host community, they advised the companies to stop acts that could lead to communal crisis.

Also speaking, leader of the protesters, Mr Isaac Thompson, told Agip to step down the 120 mega watts of electricity to the communities from the Okpai Independent Power Plant, IPP, in accordance with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCC.                                                           Calling for the provision of employment slots for the people, Thompson also stressed the need for their traditional rulers and landmarks to be recognized by the oil companies, alleging the community was being polluted and their surface and underground water contaminated as a result of gas flaring and oil spill.

He appealed to the local government authorities to convey their complaints to the state and federal governments and all relevant agencies.

Efforts to reach management of the two companies for comments on the protest proved abortive at press time.