Host communities of Oriental Energy Resources Ltd (OERL) have urged the oil company to comply with Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act 2010, specifically the Community Content Guidelines.
Representatives of the Effiat/Mbo host communities in Akwa Ibom State, Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR), in a petition, averred that the oil company has blatant persistent and egregious disregard for NOGICD Act 2010.
A statement jointly endorsed by State Chairman, CDHR Akwa Ibom State branch, Comrade Ndifreke Afangide and State Secretary, Comrade Barr. Fidelis Igwesaid, noted that given OERL’s persistent, deliberate, and egregious disregard for agreements, laws, and the rights of the host communities, and NCDMB’s failure to enforce compliance, they had no choice but to occupy OERL’s Lagos office to assert that the rights of the people are non-negotiable.
CDHR said despite numerous, tireless, and well-intentioned efforts by various stakeholders, OERL has consistently demonstrated a callous disregard for agreements, laws, and the rights of the host communities.
These efforts include a protest letter from His Royal Majesty Ogwong Okon Abang, Paramount Ruler of Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State to OERL’s Chairman on January 4, 2022, highlighting the need for compliance; a letter from Barr. Edwin Essien on behalf of the host community to the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, on August 2, 2022, compelling OERL to comply with the law; a follow-up letter from the Paramount Ruler to the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, on November 7, 2022, reiterating the importance of adherence; an agreement signed between OERL and the host community on November 23, 2023, which has been flagrantly disregarded and a reminder letter from the Paramount Ruler to OERL’s MD on December 6, 2023, referencing the agreement and requesting compliance which fell on deaf ears.
Others are another agreement between OERL and the host community in October 2024, which was entered into with no intention of fulfillment, further underscoring OERL’s duplicitous nature; a 21-day ultimatum issued by the Obolo Youth Coalition Worldwide (OYCW) on January 17, 2025, threatening disruptions if OERL failed to comply, which was met with indifference; an intervention by the DSS and CDHR, leading to a meeting on January 24, 2025, where OERL agreed to comply, only to renege; letters from CDHR to OERL on January 24, 2025, and to NCDMB on January 29, 2025, emphasizing the need for compliance, which were ignored; publication of the agreement by CDHR to all media houses on February 10, 2025, to bring attention to OERL’s recalcitrance; and a follow-up letter from CDHR to OERL on February 14, 2025, reiterating the demand for compliance, which has been met with silence.
“We also condemn the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for its failure to enforce compliance, overlooking OERL’s egregious actions, and maintaining a deafening silence despite overwhelming evidence of OERL’s disregard for the law. As the regulatory body responsible for ensuring compliance with the NOGICD Act 2010, NCDMB’s inaction has emboldened OERL’s recalcitrance,” the group noted.
The group demanded that OERL immediately comply with the NOGICD Act 2010, fulfills all agreements reached with the Effiat/Mbo host communities in good faith; take concrete steps to address the grievances and concerns of the host communities while the NCDMB must take immediate action to enforce compliance with the NOGICD Act 2010 and hold OERL accountable for its actions.
