OML 42 in Delta: Youth Forum Backs Call on FG to Probe NEPL/NECONDE/AMARANTA
By Ezekiel Kagbala
A group of Niger Delta youths under the aegies of Oil Mining and Leasing OML42 Youth Forum has expressed support for a call by the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to institute probe into alleged shady operations in OML 42 operated by NEPL/Neconde/Amaranta.
The OML42 Youth Forum berated the oil companies "for maltreating their host".
This was contained in a statement signed by the Chairman of OML42 Youth Forum, Comrade Bakawei Mamamu, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri, Delta State on Thursday.
The Ijaw Youth Council had on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at a press briefing in Warri, highlighted areas where the oil companies had allegedly "failed their host".
Among others, IYC had alleged that the owner of Amaranta, a major company in the NEPL/NECONDE JV, Dr. Ernest Obijiesi, "had been using every means to frustrate the signing of contracts for indigenous contractors that have duly won various bids in the OML".
The OML42 Youth Forum chairman in his statement noted that "despite the huge production to the national treasury of Nigeria, the JV operators operating the OML 42 turned a blind eyes to the basic needs of their host communities as the youths are maltreated without gainful employment in the companies operating in the areas".
Bakawei stated that "since the divestment of this asset to the JV partners (formerly NPDC) and now NEPL/Neconde Energy Limited and their associate companies have failed the host communities".
The OML42 Youth Forum statement partly reads, "NECONDE JV have been operating the asset without any form of documented corporate social responsibility till the Nigeria's Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, was recently signed into law.
"The host communities were exploited and reduced to nothing, while it was expected that the implementation of PIA would salvage the situation, till date, the companies has suddenly developed cold feet towards the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) for the benefit of the host communities.
"Soon, we will take the necessary action against the explorers and the world will bear witness to the fact that we have done our best in the area of being patient and peaceful in the face of repression by NECONDE and their multi duplicated companies".
Efforts by our correspondent to reach management officials of NEPL/Neconde/Amaranta JV for comments on the allegations by the OML42 Youth Forum were futile as of the time of filing this report.
