Peace Test: Shell Shuns 320 Host Communities

For failing to pass an institutional peace test packaged to encourage mutual peace, sustainable development and prosperity in the Niger Delta, 320 host communities of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) have been denied access to the pecks of development and corporate recognition as partners in business and development.

The 320 communities are spread from Peremabiri in Diebu Creek of Bayelsa through Egbema in Imo, Imo River 1-3 and Isimiri in Abia to Bonny Island in Rivers, covering 10 cluster development areas.

Consequently, the violence-prone, economic sabotage-infested and disunited host communities in the four states have been charged to avoid those negative vices in order to leap-frog into the fast track of peace, development and prosperity, which the region desperately needs to jump-start the meaningful development of oil-rich communities and transform the lives of the impoverished Niger Deltans.

In a colourful ceremony to celebrate unfettered peace and exceptional service delivery in the 30 communities in the four states, the company, last Friday in Port Harcourt, bestowed 81 outstanding awards on 30 communities and 51 surveillance contractors and workers in 10 clusters within Shell Land 1 and 2 Areas of its Eastern Operations.

Presenting the awards, the company’s Asset Manager, Chidube Nnene-Anochie, the most peaceful communities were selected using a five-matrix criteria anchored on average ease of securing and sustaining freedom to operate, zero facility shut down, zero disruptions and oil deferment, lowest number of pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering, and a weighted factor that provides level playing field for communities in both GMoU and non-GMoU intervention areas.

Nnene-Anochie, who said the award was also to motivate host community surveillance contractors, pipeline surveillance contractors and workers, added that the winners were selected based on their contributions to zero third party leaks, actual number of staff employed and scope of attacks, promptness and accuracy of workers’ payment, frequency of patrol, and frequency of grass cutting as a proactive response to cases of attacks.

The asset manager noted that the strategy was a significant demonstration of the willingness of the joint venture partners to recognise and reward peaceful communities, surveillance contractors and workers for their exceptional service delivery in spite of a very challenging operating environment in 2011, and hoped that the gesture would motivate others to stand out for recognition in 2012 while strengthening existing relationships with communities and stakeholders.

The Tide gathered that the first category of awards involving Land 1 East surveillance contractors providing cover to flowlines and facilities in six clusters traversing Obigbo North, Agbada/Apara, Umuechem/Obelle, Imo-1/Imo-3/Elelenwo, Imo-2/Isimiri and Afam fields, went to eighteen recipients, with six first and second prize winners as well as six outstanding workers.

It was further learnt that the Land 2 East flowlines and facilities surveillance contractors in five clusters of Egbema, Rumuekpe, Adibawa/Ubie, Nun River/Diebu Creek and Gbaran Kolo Creek also got fifteen awards including five first and five second prize winners, and five outstanding workers.

Responding on behalf of the award recipients, Chief Priscilla Vikue from Ogoni, Apostle Nwafor Okike from Egbema, and Tochukwu Ogbuli, lauded Shell for recognising their modest contributions to the sustenance of peace, development and a congenial business environment for the future prosperity of the region, and challenged other communities that did not scale the stringent hurdle to brace up and ensure unmitigated peace, convivial atmosphere for business and development as a prelude to greater reward.