———— PEACE RESTORED AT LAST
The Imo State House Of Assembly Committee On ISOPADEC, Oil and Gas has intervened in the lingering crisis between Obokofia Community in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area and an Oil company, Sterling Global Oil Limited.
Speaking during the interface with the community and oil company, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon .Chief. Dr. Francis Uzoma Osuoha (Eze Buguma), who is also the Member Representing Ohaji/Egbema State Constituency, called on both Obokofia Community and Sterling Global Oil Ltd to stop further actions that would deepen the already escalated crisis. He encouraged them to show perseverance, patriotism and patience, while lasting solution was being sought for.
The meeting which took place on Wednesday, the 28th of February 2024, at the Imo State House Of Assembly complex, with Hon. Dr. Uzoma Osuoha presiding, had other Members of the Committee in attendance, as follows :
- Hon Engr Gilbert Chiedozie Nwosu, who is the Vice-chairman and Member Representing Oguta State Constituency.
- Rt Hon Chigozie Nwaneri, who is a Member of the Committee and Member Representing Oru-East State Constituency.
- Also, Hon Engr Bernard Ozoemelam, Member Representing Ehime Mbano State Constituency and Hon Chief James Uba Esile, Member Representing Onuimo State Constituency, were present as “Participating Observants”.
Earlier, the people of Obokofia, who came to the meeting, in very large numbers, lamented how the Management of Sterling Global Oil Ltd have been indiscriminately polluting their environment, which has negatively impacted their farmlands, thereby rendering them impotent and unsuitable for cultivation, which directly makes it impossible for indigenous farmers to carter and provide for their families. According to the people of Obokofia, “Sterling Global Oil Ltd has refused to develop our community, and they have refused to enter into any Memorandum Of Understanding, which would have brought development to our community. We are lacking on almost everything in our community, due to Sterling Global Oil Ltd’s negligence ,” as follows :
- No Workforce : They complained that job opportunities meant for them are constantly given to ghost names, who are not known in the community.
- No Homage.
- Oil Spillage into their streams, which has killed their Aquatic Animals.
- Lack of Basic Social Amenities, such as Good Roads etc. On roads, they openly wept before the Committee members, stating that their community roads, which links to other communities and local governments in the State have been destroyed by heavy duty vehicles that belongs to Sterling Global Oil Ltd, due to their impact on the roads.
They added that Obokofia community has been denied benefits as enshrined in the local content Policies And the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), such as Access to Electricity, Infrastructure and Quality Healthcare and many others. “This is pure fraud”, they tearfully lamented.
The people of Obokofia community thereafter beckoned on the Committee to intervene and direct the Oil Company, Sterling Global Oil Ltd, to reconsider and readjust their steps and position on the community, to enhance better relationship and Corporate Social Responsibilities, CSR .
Reacting on behalf of Sterling Global Oil Ltd, the Company Liaison Officer (CLO), Chief Stanley Ebe, informed the Committee that they are working based on the documents on ground and available with them. He added that Obokofia Community, as one of their TRANSIT LANDLORDS has been receiving remittance, which the company has equally been remitting to 24 other TRANSIT COMMUNITIES, including those from Rivers State. He maintained that the MAJOR LANDLORD of Sterling Global Oil Ltd are Mgbala and Ubah Agwa communities.
Also, the issue of Ezeali that the Oil Company will be dealing with came up.
After listening to both parties, the following resolutions were pronounced by the Chairman Of House Committee On Isopadec, Oil And Gas, Hon Dr Chief Francis Uzoma Osuoha, after the presentation of relevant documents to the issue at hand.
- Recognising EZEALI ONYEKACHI OZURUMBA as the duly elected EZEALI
- Approval given to him to deal with the STERLING GLOBAL, pending when the determination of the Court Ruling.
- Charging the EZEALI with the responsibility of forming the oil committee.
- Henceforth, there shall be no arrest of Obokofia youths by the Oil Company, while the Community should cease attack on the Oil Company. Citizen Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha Reporting
