Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — A landlord from Aggah community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Pastor Nicholas Ukaonu Evaristus, has petitioned the government of Italy over alleged threats to his life, security and peace by activities of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company in his community.
Evaristus in the petition sent through the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria and copied President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Ahmed Lawal, the National Human Rights Commission, among others, said Agip installed over 10 wells in Mgbede oilfield without an EIA, thereby blocking his community’s natural water course, leading to all-year flooding in the area.
He said before now he had dragged Eni/NAOC before the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Europe, where it was agreed that Eni/NAOC should channel out the flood from the community and also build a hospital to handle the healthcare of people impacted by decades of Eni/NAOC operations in Aggah community.
The petition attached with video clips, photographs and supporting documents as evidence, according to the petitioner was on behalf of himself, his family, members of Association of Land Area Landlords and people of Aggah community.
He Also accused Eni/NAOC of refusing to pay indigenous contractors from the community the balance of N265million over projects executed for the company by the contractors.
“NAOC had earlier installed a well at the location called Mgbede II. Subsequently, the company installed more than ten wells with Mgbede II running double string since 1966 till date. Unfortunately, either by deliberate act or error of omission, the facilities were installed at locations blocking my community natural water course, thus, giving rise to massive flood which sacks the community during the larger part of the year.
“In course of inquiries, we discovered that contrary to international best practices, Eni/NAOC has not, for the long years of its operations, conducted Environmental Impact Assessment or Post Impact Assessment in the affected Aggah community. Thus, it became evident that the company has no Impact Management Plan for the community even in the face of the massive killing flood into which the facilities has plunged the area.
“In false commitment to its obligations under the Terms of Settlement reached in Italy, Eni/NAOC built 12 culverts which failed in standard, quality and fitness for purpose. When it became noticeable that the culvert could not address the flood in Aggah, the company made several desperate moves to corruptly secure my compromise with a bid to inducing me to certify that the flood control in Aggah has been successfully completed, a move which was resisted by me and my people.”
Evaristus who is also the leader of Egbema Voice of Freedom, also accused Eni/NAOC of dumping toxic wastes in farmlands in Aggah community, even after the Rivers State Ministry of Environment had issued a report demanding the company to evacuate the waste and pay compensation to the affected landowners.
He added that he was neither an enemy of the company nor fighting the company, but was only demanding for equity, fairness and justice for his people, taking into consideration, the destructive nature of the extractive industry in Nigeria, with the attendant environmental degradation of the Eni/NAOC’s operation in the host communities.
“Since 2012, Eni/NAOC awarded contracts to about 30 contractors under the Association of Land Area Landlords/Agents. By 2013, the contracts were all duly executed and were certified by Eni/NAOC own Engineers as ‘satisfactorily done’. On the recommendation of the engineers hired by the company, the contractors were to be paid contract value amounting to N265, 309,445.28. Regrettably, ENI/NAOC refused off paying those contractors.
“NAOC/ENI remains unmindful that most of those contractors borrowed money from banks with accruing interest rates to execute the jobs. Needless to state as expected, those contractors have been plunged into untold hardships including seizure of property by their creditor bank, loss of reputation, business collapses, injuries in financial credits, to mention but some.”
He regretted that rather than engage the Community on the issues raised, operatives of Eni/NAOC have been suspiciously tracing his residential address.
“The desperadoes in NAOC/ENI who are misinforming, misdirecting and misapplying their offices in the company should make no mistake of thinking that if they finish me, they have finished with everybody in Aggah. I am just the voice and face of the unnumbered free spirits in Aggah;
“Measures be put in place to ensure that NAOC/ENI respects and complies fully with the terms of settlement freely entered into by parties before the OECD and in consequence, removing the flood at Aggah and establish in place thereof, developmental projects that will add value to the lives of our people;
“Eni/NAOC be compelled to discharge its financial obligations towards all contractors of Aggah/Egbema extractions who have duly and fully completed contracts awarded them by NOAC/ENI according to terms. Particularly, NAOC/ENI should be compelled to pay the contractors who have executed their jobs under the Association of Land Area Landlords/Agents.
“Eni/NAOC be compelled to conduct its operation in Aggah adopting international best practices with a bid to protecting the environment as well as the socio-economic lives and health of the people.”
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