Rivers Community Protests Alleged Neglect, Non-Implementation of PIA by Oil Firm
By Naija Enquirer Staff
Residents of Ogbele Community in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, host to Aradel Holdings Plc, on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest against the company over alleged neglect, environmental degradation, and failure to implement the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Aradel Holdings Plc, formerly known as Niger Delta Petroleum Resources (NDPR), is an indigenous oil and gas refining company that operates Oil Mining Lease (OML) 54 in the Niger Delta region.
Protest Disrupts Operations
The protest, which lasted several hours, disrupted operations at the firm’s facility as workers and visitors were prevented from gaining access. The demonstrators, including women, chiefs, opinion leaders, and youths, were seen chanting and dancing to traditional drum beats while expressing their grievances.
Some of the protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as “BOT and Aradel Holdings, please declare the amount of money accrued to Ogbele Community,” “Start Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) implementation now with effect from 2021,” “Let Ogbele landlords/community have freedom of choice of contractors,” and “Aradel Holdings Plc should be transparent in dealing with us, enough is enough.”
Community Accuses Firm of Broken Promises
Speaking to newsmen, the Community Woman Leader, Mrs. Peace Amuso, criticized the company for failing to engage local contractors and for neglecting its obligations to the host community as required by the PIA.
“Promises made over three years are yet to be implemented. The community roads are not maintained. The host families cannot boast of decent halls, nor can the community point to one project executed by Aradel,” she lamented.
Mrs. Amuso added that farmlands in the area no longer yield crops and that several attempts to engage with the company had proved futile.
Residents Decry Discrimination in Recruitment
Another protester, Mrs. Ruth Peter, alleged that indigenes of the community are often sidelined during recruitment exercises conducted by contractors on behalf of the company.
“The irony is that billions of dollars are lifted daily from our land, yet there is nothing to show for it,” she said.
Also speaking, the Community Women Assistant Secretary, Mrs. Joy Okorobia, vowed that the protest would continue until the company addressed their demands, stating that Aradel Holdings had only brought hardship to the people.
“We will not demobilize until the needful is done,” she declared.
Company Silent on Allegations
Efforts to get the reaction of Aradel Holdings’ Community Affairs Manager, Blessing Okpowo, were unsuccessful as calls to his mobile phone were not answered at the time of filing this report.
