WHY HAS THE PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI-LED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NOT TERMINATED/DISENGAGED HERITAGE ENERGY OPERATIONAL SERVICES LTD AS OPERATIONS CONTRACTORS OF OML 30 IN DELTA STATE? - THE URGENT NEED FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HEED TO THE CALLS OF THE HOST COMMUNITIES OF OML 30 AND ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BEFORE IT GETS OUT OF HAND
November 20, 2020 | News
As the presiding Minister of Petroleum Resources in Nigeria, we consider it expedient to join voice to draw the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari to the subject matter, which has the propensity to snowball into unanticipated crises in OML 30 of Delta State, if not urgently given the needed attention.
WHY HAS THE PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI-LED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NOT TERMINATED/DISENGAGED HERITAGE ENERGY OPERATIONAL SERVICES LTD AS OPERATIONS CONTRACTORS OF OML 30 IN DELTA STATE? - THE URGENT NEED FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HEED TO THE CALLS OF THE HOST COMMUNITIES OF OML 30 AND ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BEFORE IT GETS OUT OF HAND
As the presiding Minister of Petroleum Resources in Nigeria, we consider it expedient to join voice to draw the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari to the subject matter, which has the propensity to snowball into unanticipated crises in OML 30 of Delta State, if not urgently given the needed attention. And we passionately appeal and ask President Buhari, to direct the GMD of NNPC/MD of NPDC, to urgently terminate the operating contracts of Heritage Energy Operational Services Ltd (HEOSL), and Disengage them as supposed Operations Contractors of OML 30 in Urhobo and Isoko areas of Delta State.
Firstly, we are surprised that, despite several calls and complaints from relevant stakeholders and Host Communities’ locals of OML 30, about the gross misconduct, ineptitude of professional corporate practices and deliberate disregard of formal agreements entered with host Communities, being exhibited by HEOSL as supposed operational Contractors of OML 30, the Federal Government and the Management of the NNPC/NPDC have refused to disengage and terminate the operating contracts of HEOSL. This has created doubts amongst relevant stakeholders and host communities’ locals of OML 30 about the sincerity of the NNPC/NPDC joint venture with HEOSL operations in OML 30, which is in Isoko and Urhobo areas. Why is NNPC/NPDC finding it difficult to terminate/disengage the operation contracts of HEOSL in OML 30 in Delta State? Why is it taking this long for the Federal Government to intervene and address this issue now that it has not caused the deaths of host communities’ locals?
Amongst other things, HEOSL has consistently failed in its obligations to host communities of OML 30 in all ramifications, including, but not limited to adhering to Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) agreements it entered with host communities; total refusal to carry out the agreed staff audit of its Edjeba and Lagos Offices; Non-inclusion of indigenous personnel into Management positions reflecting the agreement as enshrined in the said GMoU it has with host communities; non-payment of salaries of community Contractors/ workers spanning into months, etc.
In the words of the Chairman of Isoko South LGA of Delta State, Hon. Itiako Ikpokpo: “HEOSL has become an existential threat to the peace and security of the Local Government, breeding palpable anger and tension in communities where they operate in Isoko South… As Chief Security Officer of the Local Government, I am therefore left with no choice but to call on the Honourable Minister of Petroleum and relevant authorities of the Federal and State Governments to immediately withdraw the services of HEOSL as OPERATIONAL CONTRACTORS of the OML 30 asset in Delta State. It is the only way to regain host communities’ confidence in the exploration of crude oil in their areas. HEOSL can no longer be trusted to manage the asset. The earlier they are kicked out, the better for the peace and security of the Local Government.”
For an oil company like HEOSL that operates OML 30, which is the largest oil field in the country, to have no regard for host communities and workers, and they don't abide by corporate working agreements they entered into with the host communities; then they do not deserve to remain another day as operational Contractors/operators.
The President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government should always listen to the voice of the people, rather than listening to the voice of the few people who are cheating on the communities of Urhobo and Isoko locals in Delta State. More so, why is the Federal Government of Nigeria under Buhari administration always allowing foreign media platforms to hijack Nigerian issues that can best be settled by the Nigerian Government? Enough of the silence by President Buhari, the GMD of NNPC and MD of NPDC, over this subject issue. We ask that it be given the urgent attention it needs.
Zik Gbemre.
November 20, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
As the presiding Minister of Petroleum Resources in Nigeria, we consider it expedient to join voice to draw the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari to the subject matter, which has the propensity to snowball into unanticipated crises in OML 30 of Delta State, if not urgently given the needed attention. And we passionately appeal and ask President Buhari, to direct the GMD of NNPC/MD of NPDC, to urgently terminate the operating contracts of Heritage Energy Operational Services Ltd (HEOSL), and Disengage them as supposed Operations Contractors of OML 30 in Urhobo and Isoko areas of Delta State.
Firstly, we are surprised that, despite several calls and complaints from relevant stakeholders and Host Communities’ locals of OML 30, about the gross misconduct, ineptitude of professional corporate practices and deliberate disregard of formal agreements entered with host Communities, being exhibited by HEOSL as supposed operational Contractors of OML 30, the Federal Government and the Management of the NNPC/NPDC have refused to disengage and terminate the operating contracts of HEOSL. This has created doubts amongst relevant stakeholders and host communities’ locals of OML 30 about the sincerity of the NNPC/NPDC joint venture with HEOSL operations in OML 30, which is in Isoko and Urhobo areas. Why is NNPC/NPDC finding it difficult to terminate/disengage the operation contracts of HEOSL in OML 30 in Delta State? Why is it taking this long for the Federal Government to intervene and address this issue now that it has not caused the deaths of host communities’ locals?
Amongst other things, HEOSL has consistently failed in its obligations to host communities of OML 30 in all ramifications, including, but not limited to adhering to Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) agreements it entered with host communities; total refusal to carry out the agreed staff audit of its Edjeba and Lagos Offices; Non-inclusion of indigenous personnel into Management positions reflecting the agreement as enshrined in the said GMoU it has with host communities; non-payment of salaries of community Contractors/ workers spanning into months, etc.
In the words of the Chairman of Isoko South LGA of Delta State, Hon. Itiako Ikpokpo: “HEOSL has become an existential threat to the peace and security of the Local Government, breeding palpable anger and tension in communities where they operate in Isoko South… As Chief Security Officer of the Local Government, I am therefore left with no choice but to call on the Honourable Minister of Petroleum and relevant authorities of the Federal and State Governments to immediately withdraw the services of HEOSL as OPERATIONAL CONTRACTORS of the OML 30 asset in Delta State. It is the only way to regain host communities’ confidence in the exploration of crude oil in their areas. HEOSL can no longer be trusted to manage the asset. The earlier they are kicked out, the better for the peace and security of the Local Government.”
For an oil company like HEOSL that operates OML 30, which is the largest oil field in the country, to have no regard for host communities and workers, and they don't abide by corporate working agreements they entered into with the host communities; then they do not deserve to remain another day as operational Contractors/operators.
The President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government should always listen to the voice of the people, rather than listening to the voice of the few people who are cheating on the communities of Urhobo and Isoko locals in Delta State. More so, why is the Federal Government of Nigeria under Buhari administration always allowing foreign media platforms to hijack Nigerian issues that can best be settled by the Nigerian Government? Enough of the silence by President Buhari, the GMD of NNPC and MD of NPDC, over this subject issue. We ask that it be given the urgent attention it needs.
Zik Gbemre.
November 20, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes