Group Alleges Nepotism In Firm’s Mgt Cadre

A group, Concerned Landlords of Swamps and Land Areas of Operations of Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), has accused the multinational oil firm of ethnic cleansing in its management cadre.
The group made of contractors and host communities at a press conference in Port Harcourt alleged that there had been a gradual and deliberate ploy to sideline indigenes of Niger Delta in the top management cadre of the company over the years.
It alleged that its observation was made after several years of studying, monitoring and engagement of the top brass of the multinational oil firm, which had failed to amend its ways.
Director General of the Concerned Landlords of Swamps and Land Areas of Operations of Nigeria Agip, Onisoya James Odum alleged that the ploy had made it difficult for some of the communities to benefit from hosting oil installations and contracts.
It noted that the quota system which formed part of the memoranda of understanding (MoU) oil firms have with host communities has been jettisoned, giving room for ethnic and sectional interests in the company.
“We have observed that the plan is to put the company in the hands of one of the major ethnic groups, and this has worsened unemployment and job opportunities,” he lamented.
Further decrying the situation, Odum said, “we have written to Agip several occasions on what we have observed, and now we want to tell the whole world what we are facing.”
He claimed that the situation was such that many indigenous contractors, especially those from Niger Delta have their contracts and jobs cancelled, while those left have been removed from their former positions.
He also alleged that most indigenes of Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta who were top managers in the oil firm had been retired, demoted or transferred to isolated areas.
With many letters written to the state governors, presidency and State Security Service (SSS) on the matter, it said it would openly protest the situation soon.
The body called on the media and other stakeholders to prevail on the oil firm to reverse its anti- Niger Delta policy or face serious action.