‘NNPC not owing Rivers community N36 billion compensation’

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has denied owing the Alesa-Eleme community in Rivers State N36billion compensation as host to the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), one of its subsidiaries. 

Reacting to claims by one of the traditional rulers in the community over the compensation, NNPC said yesterday that the report, which came after a purported meeting with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Board Chairman of the corporation, Ibe Kachikwu, was erroneous.
 
A statement by the corporation’s Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division, Ndu Ughamadu, traced the origin of the phantom compensation claim to a traditional ruler, regarded as claimant to the Alesa-Eleme traditional stool.

NNPC said there was no such meeting during which any approval or promises were made, noting that the ‘apparently fabricated’ story was designed to cause disharmony between the NNPC and the Alesa-Eleme Community.  

The corporation stressed that through the years, the Port Harcourt Refinery had enjoyed cordial relationship with all the 10 communities in Eleme where the refinery is located, including Alesa-Eleme and Alade- Eleme through the Joint Community Relations committee (JCRC).

NNPC said the JCRC, which comprises representatives from the various community interest groups, had been relating with the management of PHRC on a constant basis for creation and execution of development projects and needs of the communities.

While thanking the people of Eleme for their love and hospitality through the years, the NNPC implored the community residents, especially the youths, to discountenance any such rumour of an imminent N36b compensation, as there was no such approval or payment to any entity, individuals or community.