Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) can now heave a sigh of relief over its shut oil wells in Akigbene and Fierebaghagbene communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, as the government has directed the indigenes to re-open the facilities.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Oil and Gas Matters, Chief Diekivie Ikiogha, gave the order when he met with chiefs, chairmen and secretaries of Community Development Committees (CDCs), the affected communities and representatives of the NAOC in Yenagoa to resolve the conflict.
Aggrieved youths of both communities had penultimate week shut down the Italian firm’s oil wells over the latter�s failure to embark on sand-filling and shore protection of the communities as contained in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the oil multinational and the communities five years ago. The action paralysed the firm�s operations in the area.
Ikiogha, who regretted the reasons for shutting down the oil wells, argued that dialogue still remains the most potent avenue for resolving conflicts rather than confrontation.
While extolling the communities for not taking to violence and hostage-taking as a means of pressing for their demands, he advised other oil-bearing communities to shun violence as a means of conflict resolution.
The governor’s aide appealed to the oil firm to obey and implement the provisions of the MoU entered into with the communities.
Speaking on behalf of the communities, Sample Okoko said they were compelled to shut down the oil wells due to the firm�s failure to implement the sand-filling and shore protection of both communities as agreed in the MoU.
While apologising for the embarrassment their action caused the government, Okoko assured that they will no longer engage in violence to achieve development goals.
Responding, the NAOC Community Relations Manager , O. J. Akiri, explained that the search for sufficient sand for the sand-filling and shore protection delayed the project.
According to him, as soon as enough sand is discovered, the project would be executed.
He however warned that errant contractors handling other projects bankrolled by the firm in the locality would be blacklisted and the contracts re-awarded.
In a related development Chief Ikiogha has expressed dismay that some contracting firms handling jobs in oil and gas facilities in the state pay taxes to other state governments, saying everything would be done to end the practice.
“Government would make it mandatory for contracting firms wishing to handle jobs in oil and gas facilities in the state to establish their offices in Yenagoa and get their tax clearance from appropriate authorities in Yenagoa,” he said.
The governor�s aide stated this in Yenagoa when he met with Indigenous Oil Contractors Association, assuring that only competent contractors would be recommended for jobs in oil and gas firms.
Earlier, chairman of the group, Presbyter Akegbede, appealed to government to request the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to de-emphasise its classification of contractors.
Akigbede, who condemned hostage-taking in the Niger Delta, added that the problem is the worst thing to happen to the region.