Community, Oil firm Feud: A-Ibom youths seeks Tinubu’s intervention

Akwa Ibom Youths’ under the aegis of Obolo Youth Coalition Worldwide, OYCW, have urged Oriental Energy Resources Limited to comply with the policies and guidelines of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in relationship with host communities of Effiat/Mbo in the state.

Addressing journalists yesterday in Port Harcourt, President General of OYCW, Emmanuel Essang , while issuing out a 21-day ultimatum to the company, said the indigenous oil firm, has refused all entreaties to comply with the guidelines, saying that the neglect has caused untold hardship to the people of the area.

The President General of OYCW who addressed journalists, said the OERL should reserve all unskilled job roles for indigenes of the host communities where its project is domiciled.

Their demands include:  “At least 50 percent of semi-skilled job roles to be exclusively reserved for indigenes of the host community or communities where the operation is domiciled.

“Ten percent of skilled roles to be exclusively reserved for indigenes of the host communities where the project is domiciled. In the event the host community does not have qualified personnel to take over the 10 percent of the skilled, then the 10 percent slot shall be converted to additional relevant skill-training for the community or communities”.

Essang recalled that the company and youths of the host communities entered into an agreement in 2023 and 2024 at the NCDMB’s office at Eket in the state, where the firm agreed to engage the operations and supply chain department with a view to utilizing any available opportunities in the regard.

His regret is that after the meeting, the company compliance on the agreement, noting the alleged sufferings and undue hardship it meted out on the youths of the area.

They called on President Bola Tinubu, to as a matter of urgency get the coy to comply with the agreement reached in 2023/2024 and the guidelines of the NCDMB without further delay”.

They also demanded, “Oriental Energy should compel their vendors to have an immediate meeting with the host communities in compliance to the NOGICD Act.

“We give the company a 21-day ultimatum from today to have an immediate interface with the host communities to strengthen out modalities to meet up the demands of the host communities”.

The group warned that failure to comply with their demands within the 21 days, will result in the youths occupying all the facilities belonging to the company thereby disrupting its operations as long as it lasts.