Egi, Total E&P On Collision Course

The French Oil giant, Total Exploration and Production and Egi, its host community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State may be heading for collision, thereby ending the many years of their relationship.
This is coming on the heels of several allegations bordering on neglect, deceit, non-compliance with agreements cordially reached by the parties to foster good relations, levelled against the oil firm.
Frustrated by the company’s refusal to honour a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed since 2012, an apex organisation of Egi community, Egi People’s Assembly (EPA), through its leadership, had written a letter to the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, to call the company to order, and advise them to respect agreements with host communities.
The letter was channelled to the governor through the Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources, Shadrach Chukwu, for action.
The Tide reports that since the submission of the letter, nothing tangible has happened as several meetings scheduled by the commissioner for the community and the company to address lingering issues have suffered many postponements at the instance of Total.
Although the parties finally met on July 26, with the commissioner presiding, after the Egi community had stated their case, the company again took an adjournment to return August 16, one of the Egi delegates, Dr Ifeanyi Obulor, exclusively told The Tide.
The community was, however, irked by the company’s action on the agreed date.
It was reported that last Tuesday morning, while Egi delegates numbering more than 50, were waiting in the commissioner’s office, one of Total’s administrative staff brought in a letter dated the same day, and addressed to the commissioner, requesting for a postponement of the meeting.
The letter, signed by one Joseph Ajilore, reads in part: “We write to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 11, 2016, with reference MENR/CR/16/281, inviting the Management of Total E & P Nigeria Limited to a follow-up meeting with the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources on Tuesday, 16th August, 2016.
“May we kindly inform the Hon. Commissioner that due to the arrival of a new Deputy Managing Director for the Total P & E, Port Harcourt District, we are unable to attend this meeting at the agreed time”.
The Tide learnt that the reading of the letter generated anger and tension in the commissioner’s office as most delegates immediately expressed reservations on the non-challant attitude of the Total management.
Reacting to the development, the new President-General of Egi nation, Apostle Magnus Elemele, said: “Commissioner, you can see the behaviour of this company. How can they send a letter this morning when my people are already here, having abandoned their different businesses to attend this meeting?
“Total E & P is the only oil company in the Niger Delta that had been operating for years without disruption of their operations by our people, but see how they are repaying our good gestures.”
Several other delegates also expressed anger that if a meeting convened by the state government could be treated with levity, the community may just be treated with a wave of hands.
The commissioner, who frowned at the attitude of the company, said: “the action is a slight not only on me but also on the governor on whose behalf, I am acting”, remarking that inasmuch as government would like to protect oil firms operating in the state from undue harassment, it will not tolerate acts that are capable of undermining any community.
He pleaded with the Egi community to exercise patience, and allow government to handle the matter, suggesting that another date for the meeting should be taken.