OML 42: Host Communities Threaten to Shutdown NEPL/NECONDE Over Environmental Destruction, Writes Buhari 

By Ezekiel Kagbala 

UGHELLI-----Host communities of Oil Mining Lease, OML, 42, operated by NEPL/Neconde and in Warri South-West, Delta State, have threatened to shutdown the companies operations if the issue of frequent pipeline leaks leading to the continuous destruction and degradation of their environment is not addressed.

This was made known in an open Letter addressed to President  Muhammadu Buhari by leaders of the host communities, 

The letter reads

CONTINUOUS DESTRUCTION OF  ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITIES BY NEPL/NECONDE ENERGY IN DELTA STATE 

Open Letter To His Excellency,  President  Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR)

His Excellency,
Gen Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR,
President and 
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,
Federal Republic of Nigeria, Presidential Villa,
Aso Rock,
FCT
Abuja 

 
Your Excellency, Sir,

CONTINUOUS DESTRUCTION OF OML 42 ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITIES BY NEPL/NECONDE ENERGY IN DELTA STATE 

We, the undersigned executive members of OML 42 Host Communities Forum wish to draw the attention of our indefatigable President to the continuous activities of NNPC E&P limited (NEPL)/NECONDE ENERGY in the OML 42 Field Asset that creates frequent pipeline leaks leading to the continuous destruction and degradation of our environment and means of livelihoods.

Mr President, it is imperative to inform you that we have made several complains,  representations and meetings with Management of NEPL/NECONDE with a view to addressing these activities, but all efforts have proved abortive. However, after critical consultation with all stakeholders of our communities, the following resolutions have been reached: 

(1) First, we want to sincerely thank and appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR for saving the lives of our people through the awarded pipeline surveillance contracts to Tantita Security, a private and  indigenous security outfit, owned by High Chief Government Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo, today there has been  commendable improvement, as we can go about our traditional occupation of artisanal fishing and farming in the Creeks, considerably.

Mr President, it is pertinent to state that Tantita Security Services has contributed immensely to the preservation of our environment and the ecosystem, as illegal bunkering activities, Pipelines vandalism and pollution of our water bodies has been drastically reduced.

2) Mr President, We are constrained to bring to your notice reported plans by NEPL/NECONDE to embark on repair work on sections of the Trans Forcados Pipelines (TFP) which runs from OML 42 to Forcados Terminal in Burutu LGA of Delta State, without recourse to its  negative implications to communities and the environment. TFP Pipeline was constructed since early 1960s, and have outlived its useful lifespan, long ago leading to continuous pollution of our environment and destruction of our ecosystem, thereby creating hardship for the locals. We are strongly appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to save our lives and direct the GCEO NNPC limited to compel NEPL and NECONDE to commence full replacement of the said pipeline rather than sectional repair works that will not stop further leakages. This line TFP is one of the major lines destroying our environment because it has expired and cannot withstanding the pressure of crude oil on the line.

Therefore, we vehemently reject the section repair works as concurrently contemplated by the NEPL/NECONDE which will continue to leak and continue to destroy our environment that is gradually recovering, thanks to operations of Tantita Security Services

(3) Mr President, it is worthy of note that NNPC E&P Limited (NEPL) and Neconde Energy Limited has continuously refused to genuinely, committedly and transparently embark on the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). We wish to state categorically that, OML 42 communities are no longer comfortable with NEPL/NECONDE on the PIA implementation process and other community related issues in the Asset. We therefore, give the Management of NEPL /NECONDE a 21-day ultimatum to commence genuine implementation process of the PIA, failure of which will amount to shutdown of operational activities in the OML 42 Asset.

4) Mr President, it will interest you to note that all communities based contracts are being awarded to top management staff of NEPL and Neconde Energy Limited, using their cronies as community vendors thereby depriving indigenous contractors of patronage. Sir, in line with the Nigerian Local Content Act, all community-based marine and other services contracts should be awarded to indigenous community based contractors to develop their capacity and  expertise to enable them contribute meaningfully to operations of the oil industry particularly OML 42 in Delta State.

We strongly appeal to Mr President to intervene in this regard, to compel the Management of NEPL /NECONDE to do what is right and needful, as a matter of urgency, to avoid operational  disturbances.

A Stitch In Time, Saves Nine.

Your Excellency, kindly permit us to express our profound appreciations, for your understanding of our plight, and  your anticipated intervention, please.

Signed for and on behalf of the 14 host communities in OML 42 hosting 

JONES CREEK Flowstation 

ODIDI Flowstation 

BATAN Flowstation 

EGWA 1:Flowstation 

EGWA 2: Flowstation 

Winfree Atemubaghan
Chairman 
OML 42 communities forum- Odidi Field 

Francis Ayeku
General Secretary 
OML 42 Communities Forum- Jones Creek Field 

Chief (Engr) Samson Oyimi
Public Relations Officer 
OML 42 Communities Forum- Batan Field 

Victor Tonlagha 
Vice Chairman, OML 42 Communities Forum- Egwa:1

Mr Touyo Megbauteran
Assist Secretary 
OML 42 Communities Forum-Egwa: 2

Hon Dr Shadrack Otuara 
Adviser, 
OML 42 Communities Forum 

Mr Prince Okrikpa 
Adviser 
OML 42 Communities Forum 

Cc 

Group Chief Executive Officer
NNPC Limited Tower 
Abuja 

His Excellency, Sen Dr Ifeanyi Okowa 
Executive Governor 
Delta State 
Asaba 

Managing Director 
NNPC E&P Limited 
Benin City 
Edo State 

The Commission Chief Executive, Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, Abuja 
 The Chairman/GMD, Neconde Energy Limited, Nestoil Tower, Lagos 

The Asset/Deputy Project Manager, JPMT-OML 42, Edjeba-Warri, Delta State 

The Project Manager, JPMT, Amaranta Building, Warri, Delta State.