CONCERNED ITSEKIRI, IJAW AND ILAJE COASTAL COMMUNITIES

 

It is about a year ago that we all marched out to “March for Buhari.” It was a march born out of our deep conviction that things cannot continue to remain the same in this country without attempting a change. We are therefore grateful to God that the march was not in vain as it was a successful march; and we are now beginning to see the change and the effects of the change that was then the driving force of the march.

However sir, we notice that there is a “Cabal” in the Federal Government owned institutions and organizations determined not to march with this change, but resolute in their determination to ensure that the “Status quo Ante” which hitherto gives recognition to contractors in the area of operation is disregarded. One of such institutions is the NAPIMS, which, in collaboration with Chevron Nigeria Limited is frustrating the effort of the Federal Government and openly marginalizing the Itsekiri, Ijaw and Ilaje Coastal Communities by its actions.

The foregoing background facts necessitate the need to do this open letter to you, Mr. President, with a view to highlighting some of these actions the “Cabal” in NAPIMS and Chevron Nigeria Limited, particularly as it relate to the Itsekiri, Ijaw and Ilaje Coastal Communities from which oil and gas is extracted, who also feels the brunt of these exploration activities, and are there major stakeholders in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

We are aware that Chevron Nigeria Limited, a major oil company operating in the Itsekiri, Ijaw and Ilaje Coastal communities is bringing a “RIG” to the Area for use in their exploration and production of crude oil and gas, which as usual is a welcome development, but the circumstances surrounding the arrival of this RIG, the activities and job the Rig is to carryout; is our major cause of concern.

The said Rig, on arrival will operate with about 110 employees and also require the services of contractors to provide other materials and support services. Of these 110 employees, we are reliably informed that the Itsekiri, Ijaw and Ilaje Coastal communities were only given 21 slot (that is, 7 slot apiece). The remaining 89 employees have been sourced and employed from outside the Itsekiri, Ijaw and Ilaje Coastal communities. This percentage is less than 30% of the entire workforce a situation which is unacceptable to us.

We are saying that other workers cannot be brought from elsewhere within the country. The point we are making is that being the ones that feels the brunt of these oil and gas exploration and production activities, a sizeable percentage of the workforce ought to be given to us. This is not the first time Rigs will be brought to the Itsekiri, Ijaw and Ilaje Coastal communities for execution of jobs. The last Rig that came to the area gave over 50% of the workforce needed to the Itsekiri, Ijaw and Ilaje Coastal communities and they performed creditably well. We therefore see no basis for this brazen act of marginalization by Chevron Nigeria Limited.

Further, all contracts for supply of materials and services have been awarded, without recourse to, and without taking the Itsekiri, Ijaw and Ilaje Coastal communities into consideration. The least of these contracts, even for the supply of items like tissue papers were awarded to contractor from outside the area under peretext that these contracts were bided for, and awarded to the bid winners.

Over the years, we have observed that these “Phantom bids” are the vehicle of nepotism and favoritism used by the “Cabal” to enrich themselves and their cronies at the expense of local contractors who are from the area of operation of the oil companies.

It is worthy of note that indigenes and dwellers of the Itsekiri, Ijaw and Ilaje Coastal communities over the years have developed the required skill and expertise needed in the oil and gas industry and are capable of performing all work that the rig may require without the need of bringing any workforce in any field whatsoever from elsewhere. Our contractors have also distinguished themselves in the handling of all such support services and supply of materials such as the Rig may require them to perform. Their performance in this regard are verifiable anywhere. We therefore find no basis for the exclusion of contractors from our area from participating in the contracts awarded in respect of the Rig.

Mr. President, we must reiterate it that this project is being funded by a third party and this requires that the project be completed in record time without any breakdown of law and order, which may affect the funding of the project and diminish the confidence of the party funding it; that the execution of the project is likely to be an exercise in futility, a situation which may not augur well for the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.

Mr. President, though constrained, we must say that unless this situation is reversed immediately, we will not be able to guarantee the safety of men, materials, facilities and due execution of the job by persons who are alien to our communities, our sacred places, customs and traditions; a situation which may occasion chaos, breakdown of peaceful and conducive environment to work, which may affect the entire project.

Finally, Mr. President, be rest assured of our continued support of your programmes, policies and perspective of change. This, we will continue to do only in an atmosphere of equity, justice and fair play.

Thanks for your understanding.
Yours faithfully,

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             UYAESAN AMAJU                                     TIMIEBI JONES
(For: Itsekiri Coastal Communities) (For: Ijaw Coastal Communities)

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OGUNMUYIWA ATOLAGBE 
(For: Ilaje Coastal Communities)