Bayelsa host community threatens showdown with Oando over gas pipeline project
The Egeberiki community in the Okoroma clan of Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has warned the management of Oando Energy Resources to take urgent steps to meet and negotiate with it over the Obama/Kolo Creek 8 32-kilometre gas pipeline project.
They said the call was in the interest of peace, safety, and security of lives and properties, as well as to avert provocative and other impacts.
This was contained in a strongly worded letter by its solicitors, Emmanuel Isangidoho & Co, addressed to the General Manager of Oando Plc through the Divisional Manager, Stakeholders Management and Community Development.
The letter, dated February 14, 2024, and made available to South-South PUNCH in Yenagoa on Monday, alleged that Oando has marginalised the Egeberiki community and was negotiating with groups other than themselves who own the land from Points OBK 3 to OBK 12 on the Obama/Kolo Creek Pipeline Project.
The letter stated that the land in question as well as Obama Oil Wells 5, 7, 9 and 12 are legally owned by the Egeberiki community through a Supreme Court judgment, a fact which Nigeria Agip Oil Company, whose assets Oando inherited, was aware of.
The letter reads in part, “Your company should henceforth stop every form or manners of meeting and negotiating with any family, village, community, organization, personality or authority as the landlord or host community of Obama oil wells 5, 7, 9 and 12, including the flow lines and the proposed Obama/Kolo Creek 8” 32-kilometre Gas Pipeline Project from Points OBK 3 to OBK 12.
“In the interest of peace, safety and security of lives and properties, may it please your company to take urgent and sincere actions to meet and negotiate with the peace and progress-loving indigenes of Egeberiki community – your authentic landlord and host community – with the view of discharging your social responsibilities to them as required by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The letter accused Oando of “identifying and recognizing false landlords” and described the actions of the oil company as “provocative with its concomitant impacts, which our client desires not to experience.”
It urged the oil company to “toe the path of peace and the rule of law as it embarks on its operations in our client’s land.”
When reached for comments, the spokesperson for Oando Energy Resources, Alero Balogun said she was not aware of the Egeberiki letter and advised our correspondent to send an inquiry to the email address of Corporate Communications.
But as of the time of filing this report, the staff at Corporate Communications was yet to respond to the inquiry.
