Stakeholders from 14 Cawthorne Channel communities in the Kalabari Kingdom and other satellite communities, under the aegis of DAA-3 Cluster Development, have rejected modalities used in awarding pipeline surveillance contract to Government Ekpemupulo (aka Tompolo) by Federal Government.
The group, in a statement signed by 23 persons, at a press briefing in Ido community in Asari-Toru council in Rivers State, yesterday, explained that out of the 1,500 surveillance chances given by Tantita Security Services Nig Ltd, only a “paltry” number of 250 slots were allocated to 14 communities.
The spokesperson for the group, Dr. Sule Amachree, noted that the oil-rich communities were not adequately consulted by handler(s) of the Pipeline Surveillance Contract, adding that there was no natural justice and inclusiveness in the distribution of surveillance opportunities.
The statement reads: “We, the executive members of DAA-3 Cluster Development Board, in conjunction with critical stakeholders of the14 Cawthorne Channel communities in Kalabari Kingdom and other satellite communities, have rejected, in strong terms, modalities used by Hon. Farah Dagogo, the Rivers State coordinator of Tantita Security Services Nig. Ltd in the appropriation of opportunities arising from the Pipeline surveillance Contract awarded to the aforementioned company, to which Government Ekpemupulo (aka Tompolo) is the CEO.
“We resolved that the total stretch of the (Nembe Creek Cawthorne Channel Trunk Line Project (NCTL) is about 11Okm and about 52km out of the 11Okm of the NCTL Project impact Cawthorne Channel Communities. This means, only these Kalabari communities of Cawthorne Channel Oil fields house about four per cent of the total stretch as stated above, while other communities are only impacted by about 63 per cent of the said project.
“The Cawthorne Channel Oil field covers three major Kalabari communities, eleven impacted communities, and other satellite communities. The communities include: Buguma, Abonnema, and Bakana. Others are Ido, Abalama, Tombia, Obu-ama, Minama, Ifoko, Tema, Fouchee, Elem Kalabari, Captain Kiri and Sangama and some other satellite communities.”
Amachree warned the company to stop surveillance services or be met with stiff resistance, just as they called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the state governor to intervene in the matter.
