As the Seven-day ultimatum given by Egbema Leaders National Executive Council to the management of NPDC/Elcrest Joint Venture Oil Coy Ltd for the company to arrange to meet the host communities of OML 40 over the ongoing dredging of the waterway expires today, the executive chairman of Warri North Local Government Council, Smart Asekutu, has called for dialogue and peaceful resolution of the communities’ grievances.
The New Diplomat learnt that the oil company was in the process of dredging the major waterway which links major communities in the creek of Warri North Local Government Area. It was gathered that the operator of OML-40, NPDC/Elcrest is presently expanding its operational base located between Opuama and Tsekelewu.
The dredging process, The New Diplomat further gathered, is to allow the company move its equipment to the new expanded area. But the dredging process does not extend to Tsekelewu, the last community in the creek. At the completion of the dredging, the water around the community will flow into the deep and dredged area thus locking out Tsekelewu community from access to the waterway. This, The New Diplomat learnt, is the point of complaint by the community.
In a chat with our correspondent, Asekutu said he has waded into the matter to ensure that there is dialogue and peaceful resolution rather than a shutdown of the activities of the company.
According to him, the Polobubo (Tsekelewu) National Executive Council appointed a new exco recently, adding that the new leaders paid him a visit on Friday, last week to introduce themselves to the council. And he seized the opportunity to admonish them to engage in dialogue and negotiation to resolve the matter.
“We are aware that the company has done a lot of things that we are not comfortable with, but they should exhaust negotiations and adopt peace.
“Like I said, mine is to ensure there is to ensure there is peace in the Local Government Area. It is interesting to know that some of these issues … did not start just yesterday. They have been there before now. As a matter of fact, the canalization project they are talking about was awarded to a local contractor by NDDC in 2012. It was awarded to a company that could not perform.
“Now what is happening is that between Opuama and Tsekelewu that is where you have NPDC/Elcrest operation. Now, they want to expand their operation and they cannot take equipment to their new area. That is why they embarked on the dredging. As you can see, Tsekelewu is at the end of the Creek. And as they dredge, the waterway will become deeper and water will flow from Tsekelewu community to the deep waterway and the community will be locked out.
“So, what the people are trying to protest for is that the company should extend the dredging to Tsekelewu so that the they can enjoy the use of the canal, not just ending the dredging at the point where they located their equipment.
“So, my position is that the leaders should make proper arrangements for the company to go and see what the Tsekelewu people are complaining about…”Asekutu added.
In a chat with The New Diplomat on phone this morning, a prominent Egbema chief who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that Asekutu had tried to intervene to prevent the contemplated action of the group, adding that even at the moment he was still trying to reach out to the leaders to sheathe their swords and embrace peace and dialogue.
“The Local Government Council chairman tried to settle it. He has intervened two times now. Even this present one, he has also intervened that they should settle. But it is like the leaders have made up their mind go ahead with the threat to shut down the operation of the oil company tomorrow,” he said.
