As part of his responsibility as Commissioner Representing Ughelli North and Ethiope East on the board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, Chief Pius Ovbije recently met with Kokori, Erhoike and Orogun communities to find a lasting solution to the crisis looming as Heritage Oil and Gas are set takeover Kokori flow station.
In the early hours of Friday morning, 7th April 2017, the Commissioner got a red alert message from the people of Erhoike community on the plans of some faceless people planning to violently prevent Heritage Oil and Gas from inspecting the NPDC facilities ahead of the forthcoming handover.
On getting to Erhoike community, a feud had already started, but for the timely intervention of the Honourable Commissioner, the face off was envisaged to have degenerated to a crisis between the men of the Nigerian Army and the communities, which saved avoidable bloodshed. Unfortunately, one of the youth was seriously injured and was immediately rushed to the hospital for medication.
While the military men insisted that Heritage Oil and Gas must inspect the facility on that day, the commissioner pleaded with them to shift the Inspection till Tuesday 11th April 2017 which was accepted. He then fixed a meeting for Monday to enable Heritage inspect the facility on Tuesday as agreed with all the communities involved at DESOPADEC zonal office in Ughelli.
The meeting was held on Monday as Scheduled and all the communities involved resolved to sheathe their sword as they await Heritage Oil and Gas to come for negotiations. Inspection of the facility by all relevant stakeholders successfully took place on Tuesday amidst excitement.
The Commissioner further advised CDB, all the communities and stakeholders to allow the existing NPDC GMoU to continue till the September date of expiration as they look forward to all inclusive MoU between the communities and the new owners, Heritage Oil and Gas.
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