Irate Youth Shut Down Agip Operations In Rivers

Members of Ugbobi Youth Federation (UYF) in Ahoada West Local Government Area, Rivers State, yesterday, staged a peaceful protest against what they described as slavery meted out on them by the Italian oil giant – Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC).
The irate youth stalled smooth working operations at the Oshie flowstation, demanding that NAOC employs a good number of host community youth and restores the contract initially given to their monarch, Eze I..J. Odum, among others.
The Tide investigation shows that the contract was allegedly diverted to a non-indigenous company.
Addressing newsmen at Akala-Olu community, Eze I..J. Odum said: “I’m the royal father of Ugbobi clan, comprising 12 towns and villages, and seven host landlord communities, including Ukpeliede, Enito I, Enito II, Emezhi I, Emezhi II and Idu-Ekpeye; noting that no single youth from the communities has been given employment by Agip in 44 years of their operation.
“Based on that, I was kidnapped. I don’t want to be kidnapped for a second time”, Odum said.
The monarch urged NAOC to give the youth maximum employment opportunities, and also restore his contract with immediate effect.
Also speaking, President of UYF, Comrade Odinaka Igbeke said: “Our grievances today include the withdrawal of contract rights to our royal father. I am stating that the contract must be restored to him. Employment opportunities which NAOC denied us since 44 years ago must also be given, otherwise, we are not calling off the protest.
Reacting, NAOC’s Head of Production, Oshie flowstation, who declined to mention his name said, he was on top of the situation, and assured that the youth would have access to management of Agip in Port Harcourt where their grievances would be properly handled.
He confirmed that a meeting between the management and the youth, including their monarch, has been scheduled for next Tuesday in Port Harcourt, to address all grievances.
The supervisor pleaded with the youth and the traditional ruler to sheathe their swords and allow the meeting resolve all issues.
However, The Tide investigation revealed that for the past 44 years of NAOC operation in the area, none of the landlords has been in the employment of the oil giant.
It was further discovered that no meaningful development project to ameliorate the sufferings of the people arising from incessant inhalation of gas and pollution from oil spills, has been located in the area.