ANGRY Youths from OML30 cluster 5,6,7,8 and 9 area B, Saturday staged a peaceful protest over infield covert surveillance contract allegedly awarded to two contractors from Isoko Nation by Heritage energy operational services limited (HEOSL) and JV partner NPDC and Shoreline Resources ltd.
The Youths in their numbers blocked the entrance of Heritage oil Company logistics Base truncating daily operations and they accused former President General of Isoko Development Union, IDU, of collecting N30 million from an Isoko son (name withheld)
The protesters chanting songs of neglect and deprivation with placards having inscription as, “NPDC/Shoreline and Heritage, release the award letter to CMD LTD An indigenous contractor from Oleh community Cluster 5, OML30”, “Heritage “C&P” Department we have not seen were two contractors win contract at the same time”.
Others are ” NNPCL Manager/ Heritage Energy, Comrade Zino Onaemor is not from OML30 community, let him focus on OML26″, “In line with OML30 “Gmou” signed by all parties, All surveillance contracts are for indigenous contractors”, and Controversial CDB Board chairman, Chief Iduh Amadhe leave OML30 surveillance alone” among others.
Leader of the protest, Efe from Cluster 8 Owhe community said, fifteen contractors bidded in area A Urhobo communities and area B Isoko communities were screened and only Chief Henry Ojogho of CMB NIG. LTD from Oleh community and Spil Recovery contractor from Kokori community became successful.
He noted that CMB NIG LTD preferred former contract staff that have experience, but the CDB Board Chairman Chief Iduh Amadhe awarded the contract to Comrade Zino Onaemor of TARZINO who is from Ofagbe community in OML26, which according to him is the reason for the protest.
Efe added that the infield covert surveillance host community workers will resist the double contract award, even as acceptance letter to CMB NIG LTD was acknowledged on the 27th of November 2023, emphasizing that if Heritage oil Company fails to resolve their grievance, the company facilities will be short down.
Also speaking, Prince Ogologo Meshach, infield coordinator from Uzere cluster 9 OML30 said, on April 2023, Heritage/Shoreline asked all infield contract staff to leave the field as the former contractor Mormorin owned the workers backlog of salaries, noting that Heritage management promised to engage another competent contractor for the past 7 months.
He maintained that the infield covert surveillance contract in OML30 facilities was awarded to CMD NIG. LTD and has been hijacked to TERZINO, stressing that it will be resisted. He noted that letters were sent to Heritage management at Ejeba office, DSS Asaba and SPDC Benin.
On his part, Prince Collins Idama from Cluster 5 Oleh community corroborated saying, Chief Henry Ojogho of CMB NIG LTD who won the contract is from Oleh community Cluster 5, adding that the kick-off meeting was scheduled for 27th of December 2023 as confirmed by the security manager to Heritage oil firm Mr. Hemman
Responding DSS Denis Okeh promised to transmit the protest message to Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited management, noting that subsequent copies of letters be given to them for early response.
The Youths also took the protest to Isoko Development Union secretariat, just as the President General, Prof. Chris Akpotu assured of amicable resolution of the issues at the ongoing 2023 delegate conference.
