Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has raised the alarm over alleged shady barging operations and enslavement of host communities by operators of Oil Mining Licence (OML) 42, located in Warri South Council of Bayelsa State.
A statement by its spokesman, Binebia Princewill, called on the Federal Government to probe barging operations in OML 42 by setting up a committee to
investigate alleged shady operations in the OML.
The statement said FG should be aware that while OML 30, 26, and others were pumping through the Transforcados Pipeline (TFP), only OML 42, which is closer to the TFP, had refused to pump through it because of the gains a certain cartel was making through the barging operations.
IYC said due to the development, the FG was losing billions of dollars to the cartel’s operations, which contravene international laws related to oil production transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption measures.
The body also frowned on the ways and manners indigenous contractors and host communities were made to handle smaller contracts, while strangers take the bigger contracts.
It said: “This marginalisation violates local practices and international conventions on indigenous rights and fair labour practices.
“Recall that production in OML 42 commenced in 1969 and attained a peak gross production rate of about 250,000 bpd in 1974. Production is primarily of oil from Egwa, Batan, Ajuju, Odidi, and Jones Creek fields, under international regulations governing oil production and reporting standards.”
IYC called on FG, the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil) to direct the Managing Director of NEPL to do the needful by ordering all those involved to sign all contracts for indigenous contractors in OML 42 quickly.
They demanded that henceforth, community contractors and workers should be treated fairly by giving them the right of first refusal.
