NAOC Faults Claims Of Victimisation Against Host Communities 

The Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC), a subsidiary of Eni, has faulted the allegations of victimisation levelled against it by some Niger Delta groups.
The company also described the allegations that one ethnic group is secretly controlling processes, contracts and budget of the company as absolute falsehood.
The oil company which operates in over 60 countries, said all its activities were in compliance with national and international laws and regulations and international best practices.
The company, in a statement made available to The Tide, added that the it was guided by strong values to ensure fairness, transparency, honesty and integrity in its activities.
“The company’s system of policies and internal controls comply with the highest international standards.
“Eni’s approach to human rights is integrated into the company’s mission; it is an integral part of Eni’s identity and its way of doing business.
“It builds on the dignity of every human being and on company’s responsibility to contribute to the well-being of local individuals and communities. Indeed, Eni believes that business must respect internationally recognised human rights, as established in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights”, it said.
The statement further said that recruitment, personnel rotation, careers, tenders, procurement activities, as well as any other decision of the company follow strictly laid down rules and regulations, defined at HQ level with a set of checks and audits.
This, it said, makes it impossible for any individual to take unilateral decisions without going through the processes and hierarchies.
“More than half of the managerial personnel in the company is from Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta States while the remaining are shared by 18 states of the country including Imo State that is one of the operating locations since over 55 years”, Agip claimed.
The company also debunked the claims that its operations were capable of endangering the lives of the personnel of the company from a particular part of the country as well as inciting unnecessary ethnic violence.
“We denounce the group’s malicious publications, news conference and videos against our company and expressly reserve all our rights and remedies in relation to whoever disseminates false information about the company’s activities”, it stated.