By Ese Adagbra
LAGOS AUGUST 5TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Contractors under the aegis of South Swamp Contractors working for Shell Petroleum Development (SPDC) has threatened to disrupt the operation of the oil company in Niger Delta Region for excluding them from the Southern Swamp Gas (SSAG) Project.
Unless urgent steps are taking by those who are in authorities and by the management of Shell Petroleum Development (SPDC) the peace presently experience in the Niger Delta Region maybe truncated.
The Contractors in a letter dated 22 July 2013 addressed to the Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company SPDC titled: Non Inclusion of Southern Swamp Contractors, in the procurement list of the SSAS Project” signed by Chief Alawei Afro Biukeme and Mr. Timi Debemimi Chairman and Secretary respectively on behalf of the contractors from the 24 host communities to SPDC in the SSAGS project accused the oil giant of excluding them from taking part in the procurement jobs, most especially the recent importation of pipes by Daewoo Nigeria Limited to Bedro Nigeria Limited for coating projects.
The contractors who claimed they were tired of doing manual jobs that are of little or no significance said they would not hesitate to stop every equipment that has to do with the SSAG’s project in the Southern swamp threatening that they would not allow the movement and transportation of those pipes or any other instrument that has to do with SSAGS project into their communities not until they were made part and parcel of the SSAGS Project.
In pursuant of their demand, their legal representatives of the contractors A.E. Emeyese & Co and Otobrise Chambers in a letter dated 23rd July, 2013 titled: Re: Non Inclusion of Southern Swamp Contractors in the Procurement list of the SSAGS Project” in which a letter was sent to the Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) said, “Southern Swamp Contractors non – inclusion for the procurement list of the SSAGA project inter-alia area and or region is in complete breach of the enabling laws guiding operations in host communities which gives credence to local content”
While advising Shell to consider its client (Southern Swamp Contractors) for the procurement of SSAGS jobs to avert problem between them, the legal luminaries threatened to take legal action against Shell to stop all activities concerning the project in the area or region.