At least 28 host communities in OML34, Delta State have issued a five-day ultimatum to ND-Western E&P Company and NNPC E&P Limited, to shutdown their operations due to failure and refusal of the companies to fulfill the mandatory obligations to the host communities.
The notice for peaceful protest and shut down of operations was contained in a letter dated November 1, 2022 and addressed to the Managing Director of NNPC E&P Limited and Chief Operating Officer of ND-Western.
Among their demand is the payment of scholarship arrears spanning through a period of four. yrars.
The letter was by the chairmen and president generals of the 28 host communities, which include Michael Oghenegueke, Pastor Moses Bekaren, Rufus Onokurefe, Francis Uzoh, Nuwawa Alledy, Okorodudu Solomon and 22 others.
“We are demanding payment of outstanding penalty fines due the 28 host communities from the expired GMoU of January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2019. Also, the payment of penalty fine of N6,250,000 representing five percent of the Project Fund for the belated payment of the second tranche of 2022, recently paid in the fourth week of October 2022, after three months of grace from January 1 to September 30, 2022, as provided for in the relevant GMoU documents,” the letter read.
“We are demanding payment of the accumulated scholarship arrears spanning through a period of four years, alternatively, the company should provide proof of awardees duly paid and records of those outstanding.”
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
