Festus Ahon
16 May 2012, Sweetrcrude, UGHELLI – YOUTHS of Idheze, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State, have given a 7-day ultimatum to Nigeria Agip Oil Company, NAOC, to vacate their land or incur the wrath of the community.
The youths, last weekend, shut the company’s Isoko South ‘C’ location, which supplies oil and gas to Irri flow station. The community’s youth chairman, Mr. Godspower Oregbor, said they would not relent in their efforts, until the company meet their demands.
Oregbor said the company had smooth operations in the community and frowned at its refusal to employ any indigene of the community as staff, whether direct or contract, since 1974.
He said the community leadership held several meetings with the company, particularly on the issue of employment, adding that the company had been making empty promises.
He said: “What we have been experiencing from NAOC over the years, is non-implementation of local content, non-employment of skilled and unskilled workers from the community and non-award of contracts to indigenous contractors recommended by the community.
“We gave two weeks ultimatum to the company on March 19, to meet our demands but since the ultimatum expired on April 2, nothing had been done about it.”
