Youths lay siege to oil firm in Rivers over disagreement on GMoU

By Davies Iheamnachor

PORT HARCOURT— YOUTHS and other stakeholders from the host community to Eroton Exploration and Production Limited, in Bakana, Degema Local Government Area, Rivers State, barricaded the entrance to the oil firm in Port-Harcourt, weekend, following a disagreement on Global Memorandum of Understanding, GMoU.

They stormed the firm’s office clutching placards with different inscriptions such as, “Eroton, Stop Fraud in DAA3, “We Demand Immediate Financial Audit of DAA3 Administrative Account,” “Give us our own Quota of Contract,” demanded details of the signed GMoU with the community.

Our grievances

Speaking, one of the leaders, Comrade Sobaasua, said: “We are here for a peaceful protest, all we are demanding is for EROTON to give us financial autonomy, Bakana is the host community I do not  see any  reason why something that is meant for the community will be channelled through somebody, We want our youths to be employed.

“Our problem is that the company is aware of this injustice; there is absence of basic amenities in the community. If you come to Bakana, you will not believe your eyes because there is no sign of development, yet there are many benefits that are being given to the community, but it is not reaching the community.”

Secretary Community Development Committee, Bakana, Mr. Gogo Abite, told NDV: “Recently, there was a project amounting to N350 million, but the Bakana people were not aware. As a major stakeholder, we are supposed to be involved, that is our agitation, and our fund should be given to us.”

Officers keep mum

Officials of the company, however, declined comments to newsmen at the scene of the protest, saying the issues raised would be communicated to the manager of the firm on his return to the country.

 

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