Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — In a bold move, the Concerned Youths of Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State have shut down drilling operations at Awoba North/West oil wells C, D, and E.
The facilities, operated by Newcross Exploration and Production Limited under Oil Mining Lease, OML 24, were forcefully halted following the expiration of a 48-hour ultimatum issued to the company over its alleged neglect of the host community and failure to fulfill its corporate social responsibility obligations.
Leading the protest, Barrister Dappa Dakoru Daniel, speaking on behalf of the Bille Kingdom youths, condemned Newcross Exploration’s continued disregard for the well-being of the people, despite years of resource extraction from their land.
Daniel stated that the community had repeatedly attempted to engage the company in discussions, but all efforts had been ignored.
“Newcross has continuously exploited our land without any meaningful development to show for it. We are demanding justice and fairness for the people of Bille Kingdom. Until our concerns are addressed, no further drilling activities will take place at these wells.”
The shutdown comes in response to a series of grievances that the community has raised over time, including what they described as the company’s outright refusal to engage with them.
According to the Concerned Youths of Bille Kingdom, Newcross Exploration has failed to conduct proper consultations with community leaders and stakeholders before embarking on its drilling operations.
The youths accused the company of deliberately excluding Bille Kingdom from decision-making processes that directly impact their land and livelihoods.
They further stated that despite repeated calls for the appointment of liaison officers who would serve as a bridge between the company and the community, Newcross Exploration has ignored their requests, leaving the people without any formal avenue to express their concerns.
Beyond the lack of engagement, the youths also criticized the company’s failure to carry out any tangible corporate social responsibility projects. They lamented that despite the wealth being extracted from their land, the community remains underdeveloped, with no investment in infrastructure, education, healthcare, or social welfare programs.
According to them, basic amenities such as clean water, electricity, and road networks are still lacking, while the company continues to profit from their resources.
Another major grievance is the alleged lack of employment opportunities for indigenes of Bille Kingdom, as the youths accused Newcross of sidelining the local workforce and instead bringing in outsiders to fill job positions that could have been occupied by qualified individuals from the community.
They argued that while their land is being exploited for oil production, their people remain jobless, struggling with economic hardship while the benefits of the industry bypass them.
Adding to their frustrations, the youths also accused Newcross Exploration of defaulting on financial obligations owed to the community.
They alleged that the company had failed to pay royalties and entitlements as stipulated in the agreements reached with the host community, as well as under the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA. The failure to meet these financial commitments, they said, has further deepened economic hardship within the kingdom.
With all these concerns left unaddressed, the Bille Kingdom Concerned Youths took decisive action by halting operations at the oil wells. According to them, the shutdown is not an act of hostility but rather a necessary step to force the company to the negotiation table.
“We are open to dialogue, but we will not accept further neglect. This shutdown is a direct response to years of frustration. We have made repeated demands for fair treatment, but since our voices have been ignored, we have taken matters into our hands. Until Newcross Exploration acknowledges our rights and fulfills its obligations, no drilling activity will resume here.”
The youths further called on relevant government authorities, regulatory agencies, and stakeholders in the oil and gas sector to intervene in the situation. They urged the Federal Government, the Rivers State Government, and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, to compel Newcross Exploration to honor its commitments to the Bille Kingdom.
“We are calling on the government to take immediate action. The Petroleum Industry Act was enacted to ensure that host communities benefit from oil operations in their land. If a company like Newcross is failing to comply with this law, then the authorities must step in to enforce it,” Daniel stated.
