IYC Warns Agip Over Redeployment Of Indigenous Staff 

The Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) Worldwide has warned the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) against alleged plans to redeploy or sack indigenes of the host communities who are occupying management positions in the company.
The IYC gave the warning in a letter signed by its president, Mr Peter Timothy, and addressed to the Managing Director of the oil company.
Timothy, in the letter, threatened to join forces with the Concerned Landlords of Swamp and Land Areas Operations of the firm to shut down the operations of the company if it continued to be oppressive towards the host communities.
The letter, which was made available to newsmen by the group, alleged that the NAOC’s Director of Human Reso-urces, Ms Calista Azogu, had perfected plans to redeploy and replace indigenes of the host communities who are occupying management positions in the company.
The group warned that the youth body would no longer condone such intimidation and oppression in their land, stating that most management staff who are from the Niger Delta region had been unduly removed and replaced in the same intimidating manner.
According to the letter, “Enough is enough, IYC will no longer tolerate further intimidation and marginalisation from any tribe.
“We request the Managing Director to carry out investigations and make her position known to the public within seven days from Thursday (last week) when the letter was submitted to NAOC in order to rebuild confidence in the minds of the landlords, communities and the region at large”.
It would be recalled that the Concerned Landlords of Swamp and Land Areas Operations of Agip, few weeks ago, had threatened to shut down operations of the company over alleged marginalisation.

By: Tonye Nria Dappa