… Demands fresh GMoU
The hitherto peaceful operations enjoyed for past years by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) within the Ekpeye Ethnic Nationality may be halted as the people have rejected the one cluster board foisted on them by the company.
In a letter written by Ekpeye Oil and Gas Pipelines Host Families Association (EOG) and addressed to the company’s managing director, dated May 26th, 2021, the people requested that four additional cluster boards be created to reflect the five kingdoms that host SPDC.
The letter was signed by the National Chairman, EOG Comrade Dogini Chidi, National Secretary, Comrade Kenneth Itigwe and more than thirty Community Chairmen.
It listed Adibawa Field OML 27, Ubie Field OML 22, Ahia Field OML 21, Mini Nta Field OML 22, Trans Niger, Kolo Creek-Rumuekpe Trunk lines/Flow lines, Enwe Field OML 22 that transverse across the Communities of Ekpeye Ethnic nationality.
On the call for a new GMoU, it described SPDC’s actions relating to signing of the previous one, as; “Unacceptable, barbaric, wicked and a grave injustice for Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to deny Host Communities from making imputs on the draft and the decisions taken unilaterally for the allocation of N90,000,000 (Ninety million naira) annually, as money meant for the one cluster board, for the development of of the entire communities of Ekpeye Ethnic Nationality.
“The said amount does not reflect the demands of the Host Communities, as the money allotted/earmarked for development in a year for the next five years by SPDC is less than the amount contained in an MoU signed by one of the IOCs for a year in one of the Communities currently.”
The people frowned at SPDC’s continuous use of the mundane and outdated ‘divide and rule’ tactics that had subjected the people to untold hardship and agony.
It warned that SPDC may face a massive protest from the people if it fails to respond to its demands at the expiration of 14days of receipt of the letter.
Ekpeye Oil And Gas Pipelines Host Families Association (EOG) is said to be a body constitutionally saddled with the responsibility of liaising, interfacing, dialoguing and discussing issues bordering and related to oil and gas in Ekpeye ethnic nation.
