…Allegations are False, Baseless – Contractors
By Emma Sunday, Port Harcourt
Host communities of Oil Mining Lease (OML 11) along the Imo River axis, cutting across Rivers and Abia states have accused Martinsevid Nigeria Limited, the contractor providing surveillance services for the crude oil pipeline of abetting illegal oil bunkering and crude oil theft.
The communities which includes, Isietitioha, Umuorie town, Isimiri autonomous community, Owaza clan in Asa, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State and Umuedeokwara community, Odagwe in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State have all called on the Federal Government and the Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited to immediately replace the contractor for gross incompetence.
Speaking on behalf of the Owaza people, the King of Isietitioha Owaza in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, His Royal Highness, Eze Christian Ikemefula, lamented the proliferation of illegal oil bunkering in his area, saying the development indicated gross incompetence on the part of the surveillance company.
The monarch emphasised that due to the increase in oil bunkering in his domain, the environment had been heavily polluted, adding that a majority of his subjects are now falling sick due to hazardous environment.
Ikemefula said, “We used to have Fricklin first, they were the people that were guarding the pipeline before and we didn’t have any problems until one Martinsevid came, so immediately they came, they multiplied bunkering in all our communities and neighbouring Etche.
“We can no longer stay in our houses again because of the much bunkering, smoke and soot covers everywhere, even our roofs are getting destroyed because of the soot falling on top. Even the water we take is polluted, everyone is now sick and this is because they gave the pipeline to bunkerers to guard.
“Martinsevid is not capable of working here, since they came, everyday there is breaking of pipelines everywhere, so they are not capable of doing the job.”
Speaking on behalf of Isimiri autonomous community, Pastor Godson Enwerenzor, who represented the President General of Umuorie Town Union, Isimiri Oil field, expressed worry that if the ongoing menace is not mitigated, the community would lose what is due them as stipulated by the Petroleum Industry act.
“We are all aware that the Petroleum Industry act in vogue spells it out very expressly that any community found wanting stands to lose what comes to them from the PIA and since the introduction of the new company bunkering has been on the increase.
“We have written severely, reporting that this new company is not worth having or doing the job, the company is not capable, if we continue like this our community would lose what is due us.
“We are saying, we have suffered enough, the time to enjoy Federal Government via the PIA is now, let us stop this rubbish so that what will accrue to the community can be enough to help the community grow and develop.”
On his part, the Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman, Okohia Asa, Ipu South autonomous community in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, Pastor Nnadi Sunny Okike, alleged that almost all youths in his community engage in oil bunkering unabbetted, adding that foreigners now see their community as a haven for the activity
“During Fricklin Nigeria Limited era, what we used to have was minimal vandalism of pipelines, not cooking of crude as we have now, that is causing smoke everywhere. Many community men and women that were involved in small businesses, because of the way bunkering is going on, they stopped, all of them are facing bunkering.
“If you come to this place in the evening, everybody will use machines (motorcycle) to carry crude oil and be passing through the road, youths no longer want to do other things, they all engage in bunkering.
He added the major players of the illegal activity in the area are outsiders coming in from neighbouring states.
“If you check very well, there are people that came from Bayelsa, Warri, Ahoada into this place and train boys that will work with them. Even Hausa people have come here doing bunkering.”
Adding his voice to ugly development, the Community Trust Chairman of Umuedeokwara community in Odagwa, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, claimed he was in possession of evidence indicating an increase in oil bunkering consequent upon the inadequacies of the surveillance contractor in diligently monitoring oil lines.
“Ever since the pipeline surveillance job was assigned to another contractor, the new contractor has never visited the communities for familiarisation visit. In my community for instance, I’m not happy with the activities of bunkering, the thing has gotten to 99 percent, they carry out the bunkering day and night and nobody is checking them, instead they go about collecting money from the bunkerers.
“Personally as a community leader I have some records that can prove the increase in the activities of illegal oil bunkering in my community. The army GOC has visited my community as the new company took over from Friclin, which has never happened throughout the two years Friclin was in charge.
“I am demanding that the Federal Government or whoever that is concerned in this pipeline infrastructure surveillance should reconsider to give the contract to a capable hand like Friclin, not this present contractor.”
Responding to the accusations, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Martinsevid Nigeria Limited, Martins Noah, said those blackmailing his company were being bankrolled by competitors to spread falsehood.
Noah, urged members of the public to disregard the accusations, stating that they were borne out of greed and envy.
“The people doing this are paid by the former contractors and other people who are looking for the same job. They are the people sponsoring all these things.
“There is nothing like that, you can also verify from the community. They are pure false. This is borne out of greed and envy. Please, disregard whatever they say.
“I am not the only person that sought for the job we were four including the former contractor.“
