Group Protests Hijack Of Pipeline Surveillance Contract …Demands Payment Of N19.2bn Compensation

A group, under the aegis of Association of Niger Delta Upland Communities, has protested against their exclusion from oil surveillance contract by the Federal Government.
The protesters also shutdown activities of multi national Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in Rumuekpe Community, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State over the issues.
The protesters, including women, youths, and the elderly, also demanded compensations of N19.2bn meant for eight months salary arrears from TNP Oil Surveillance in the area.
President, Association of Niger Delta Upland Communities, Isa Mohammed, decried the hijack of the surveillance contract in the area by indigenes of Riverine communities.
Mohammed demanded that the N19.2billion wrongfully diverted by PINL to fake warlords in the riverine communities meant for eight months salary arears of TNP Oil Surveillance in Rivers State, be returned to the upland communities.
He also called for the release of the original copies of documents for the oil surveillance contract for the TNP oil pipeline to the upland communities by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
“Our people were not given the opportunity included in the master’s deal, whereby about 150 persons died in Rumuekpe in fire outbreak disaster in that TNP, even when the contract has been signed to the company”, he said.
He further stated that they will keep fighting for the right of the upland communities until their demands are met.
“We need equal right from Federal Government as we produce over 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day in Rumuekpe Manifold.
He, however, solicited for recognition of Niger Delta Upland Communities by the Federal, State, Local Government and oil companies operating within the upland communities.
Some indigenes of Rumuekpe Community, who spoke to The Tide on the sideline of the protest, decried the neglect of the community by government and Oil companies.
They also accused the International oil companies operating in the area of shying away from their corporate social responsibilities.
“We have four oil companies operating in Rumuekpe commtunity namely: NDPR, SPDC, NAOC (Agip) and TotalEnergies, but we are lacking basic amenities.
“When you are coming to Rumuekpe Community, you can see that we don’t have roads, we don’t have drinking water, no hospital, no market, no light and no school.
“We are calling on these companies and the government to provide these amenities for our people because we have suffered a lot”, they said.

By: John Bibor