28 February 2013,Sweetcrude, Warri – Angry villagers from Diebiri and Batan communities in Delta State have shut down Batan flow station in OML 42, operated by the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, a subsidiary of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC over compensation and other disagreements with the company.
It was gathered that the action of the communities crippled the operations of the company in the area, as workers were not allowed to work, while the wellheads and locations were affected.
Chair of Diebiri Governing Council, Mr. Samuel Ako, who confirmed the shutdown of the flow station by the communities said, “Our action was occasioned by NPDC’s failure to pay compensation, carry out clean-up, remediation and re-vegetation of our environment arising from the equipment failure oil spill of July 5th 2012″.
“The company also refused to sign Memorandum of Understanding with us on agreed issues despite the notice given them by the community. This is what led to the shutting down of the down of operations in Batan Flow Station on 23rd February 2013 by the Diebiri and Batan communities.”
“NPDC instead of dialoging with the communities involved to resume operations, have taken different steps to cause divide and rule, disunity among leaders and the people of Diebiri and Batan communities.”
“There is also threat to deal with leaders using security agents”, adding, “We do not want to experience another crisis in this part of the Niger Delta region, occasioned by oil companies, that is why we are urging the government to intervene,” he said.
Mr. Ako said the community, Tuesday, notified the Delta Waterways Security Committee, DWSC, Warri, of the development and urged the committee to call NPDC to order.