Rivers Community Pickets NAOC, Demands N100bn Compensation
Group of people, including men, women and youths of Mgbuosimini community in Rumueme, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State yesterday shut down activities at the operational headquarters of Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) Limited in the area.
The community members who were demanding N100billion compensation from the company for years of alleged neglect and damages, stormed the main gate of Agip as early as 6 a.m. and stopped workers from accessing their workplace.
They alleged that the oil giant has not lived up to their expectations in the community.
In a statement issued during the demonstration, the acting Chairman of Mgbuoshimini Community Development Council (CDC), Weli Nyeche, said they shut down Agip to drive home lingering issues. Parts of the 10-point demands of
Mgbuoshimini community include: “That the community hears that Agip Oil Company Limited has been sold to OandO Plc without carrying the host Mgbuoshimini community along knowing that Agip does not have an absolute lease on our ancestral land among many other legal issues. This is unacceptable and we demand justice.
“That Agip should pay the sum of one hundred billion naira to the Mgbuosimini community in compensation for over 60 years of neglect and several damages caused the Mgbuosimini community.
“That the irreducible demand of the Mgbuoshimini community is that any invitation for a meeting should be backed by an invitation letter to the Mgbuoshimini community chairman signed by the GMD of which the meeting shall be led by the managing director himself since the district management has failed, refused and neglected to resolve the issues.”