Some host communities in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government areas of Rivers State have picketed a flow station belonging to an oil giant, Nigerian Agip Oil Company, in the area.
The protesters, under the aegis of the Egi Cluster Families’ Landlords Association, comprising three communities, blocked the station located in Idu Oboburu community over alleged non-implementation of the Global-Memorandum of Understanding they reached with the firm.
The protesters also displayed placards with different inscriptions to express their grievances, even as they vowed to keep occupying the oil facility until their demands were met.
The group, numbering over 50, barricaded the access road leading to the company’s facility in the area and disrupted operations.
The Chairman of the Egi cluster families’ landlords, Raphael Johnson, alleged that Agip refused to recognise the communities, even as he expressed dismay that several letters written to get the attention of the company’s management did not yield any result.
He said, “Since Agip has refused to recognise the landlords of Egi, while recognising landlords and associations from other areas, we have written different letters to Agip and security agencies calling their attention to the matter, but they refused to answer us.
“Three weeks ago, we went for a peaceful demonstration and Agip came with security agencies. They pleaded and invited us to a meeting through SMD, Port Harcourt. We went for the meeting, but SMD was not there.”
Efforts to reach a spokesman for the firm, Okpoyo Etim, were unsuccessful, as he did not take his calls or respond to a text message from our correspondent as of press time.
Contact: theeditor[at]punchng.com
