LAGOS OCTOBER 22ND (URHOBOTODAY)-Ex-militants of Urhobo origin have frowned at an alleged attempt by the Federal Government and the management of Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) to short change the Urhobo nation in the oil pipeline surveillance contract awarded by the Federal Government.
Lamenting the alleged marginalisation of the Urhobo nation by the Federal Government and NPDC in the activities of the oil sector of the country in spite of its contribution to the country’s coffers, the group said OML 30, situated in the Urhobo land, is the largest onshore oil block in the country, covering about 1097 square kilometres with eight oil producing fields and producing 39500 barrels daily.
The group’s leader, Richard Irorobeje, expressed dissatisfaction with NPDC, saying, “despite the continual ‘milking’ of the communities that are hosts to the oil companies (Shell, Total and Eni) since 1961 with Shell as operator, the Federal Government and NPDC signed an agreement that ex-militants from Urhobo nation would be used to guard the oil pipelines within their communities and not to use foreigners, but to our surprise, people from other ethnic groups were employed by management of NPDC to guuadthe oil pipelines.”
Appealing to the Federal Government and management of NPDC to respect the agreement and “from henceforth stop handling issues bordering on the Urhobo nation to another ethnic group in the state,” he said such act could lead to ethnic crisis. He advised NPDC to liaise with those concerned with the affairs of Urhobo ex-militants in the activities of OML 30.