Stop further drilling, Delta community warns NPDC •We are not aware of their demands —NPDC

To avert imminent face-off, Tsekelewu community in Egbema Kingdom, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, has warned the Nigerian Petroleum and Development Company (NPDC)/Elcrest against further drilling operations in the community.

The warning came in a press statement signed by the President, Tsekelewu Community Welfare Association, Mr Marvis Ofiyai and made available to journalists in Warri, at the weekend.

Ofiyai accused the oil company of being insensitive to the plight of the community.

He vowed that his people would henceforth get 40 per cent of all the contracts arising from drilling operations in the community, otherwise no drilling would took place.

“We have been informed that there is a drilling rig project is about to commence in the community based on a purported Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), dated February 2015.

“This project, if not properly handled, can cause serious breach of peace in Opuama Field, NPDC/Elcrest should beware.

“The drilling will not commence if Tsekelewu people do not get 40 per cent of the contracts arising from the drilling operations,” he vowed.

NPDC/Elcrest is currently operating at Opuama Field in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 40 formerly owned and operated by Shell Petroleum and Development Company (SPDC).

The president said Opuama Field is hosted by Opuama and Tsekelewu communities.

Ofiyai also urged NPDC to provide the final report of the EIA on the dredging campaign and pipelines replacement going on in the Opuama Field Area,  adding that the project was taking its toll on the people.

He called for an established MoU between the NPDC and the Tsekelewu people to facilitate development in the community.

According to him, oil companies are expected to operate in line with best global practices by relating with their host communities through the communities’ accredited representatives.

“We demand that duly elected and accredited representatives of Tsekelewu community be notified and carry along through the bidding process for the award and execution of contracts.

“The draft EIA for the proposed seven appraisal wells within the Opuama Field in OML40 should be upturned and the entire process cancelled until NPDC does the proper thing,” he said

The community leader, therefore, appealed to the Federal and Delta State governments and the international community to prevail on NPDC/Elcrest to avert the looming crisis.

Meanwhile, the External Relations Manager of the NPDC,  Mr Ugo Atugboko, said the company was not aware of the demands made by the community, noting that the company has a robust relationship with Tsekelewu community.

According to him: “We have been meeting with members of the community; tell them to send the document containing their demands to us, we will attend to it.

“They have not showed us any document before going to press,  let them bring the document and we will address the issues.”