Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa
Umbrella body of Ijaw youths worldwide, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has raised the alarm over alleged shady barging operations in host communities by the operators of Oil Mining Licence (OML) 42, located in Warri South Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
A statement by the its spokesman, Binebia Princewill, called on the federal government to probe the operations by setting up a committee to thoroughly investigate the situation.
The statement said FG should be aware that while OML 30, 26, and others are pumping through the Trans-Forcados Pipeline (TFP), only OML 42, which is closer to the TFP, has refused to pump through it because of the gains a certain cartel is making through the barging operations.
IYC said due to this pattern, the federal government is losing billions of dollars from the cartel’s operations, which contravene international laws related to oil production transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption measures.
The body also frowned on the ways and manner indigenous contractors and host communities were reduced to eating crumbs from handling smaller contracts while strangers take the bigger contracts.
“This marginalisation violates local practices and international conventions on indigenous rights and fair labour practices.
“It would be recalled that production in OML 42 commenced in 1969 and attained a peak gross production rate of about 250,000 bpd in 1974. Production is primarily of oil from Egwa, Batan, Ajuju, Odidi, and Jones Creek fields, in accordance with international regulations governing oil production and reporting standards,” it said.
IYC therefore called on the government, the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil) to direct the Managing Director of NEPL to do the needful by ordering all those involved to quickly sign all contracts for indigenous contractors in OML 42
It warned that henceforth, community contractors and workers be treated fairly by giving them the right of first refusal.
