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Youths under the auspices of Obolo Youth Coalition Worldwide, (OYC) have called on the oil firm, Oriental Energy Resources Limited (OERL), operator of OML 115 and OML 67 also known as “Ebok and Okwok Fileds” in Akwa Ibom State to comply with the policies and guidelines of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) as it affects the host communities of Effiat/Mbo Local Government Area.
The youths threatened to occupy all facilities that belong to the OERL if it fails to implement the agreement it willingly entered into with the host communities in Eket last year after 21 days.
Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt, the youth body alleged that OERL has refused to comply with the guidelines, saying that the neglect has caused untold hardship to the people of the area thereby forcing the youths to look for alternative means of survival.
President General of the Coalition, Emmanuel Essang, who addressed the journalists, however thanked the company for its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and asked it to reserve all unskilled job roles for indigenes of the host communities where its project is domiciled.
“At least 50 percent of semi-skilled job roles are exclusively reserved for indigenes of the host communities where the operation is domiciled.
“At least 10 percent of skilled roles are exclusively reserved for indigenes of the host communities where the project is domiciled. In the event the host community does not have qualified personnel to take over the 10 percent of the skilled, then the 10 percent slot shall be converted to additional relevant skill-training for the community or communities”.
Essang recalled that the company and youths of the communities entered into an agreement in 2023 and 2024 at the NCDMB’s office, Eket, where the firm reportedly agreed to engage the operations and supply chain department with a view to utilising any available opportunities in this regard.
The youth leader regretted that after the meeting, the company had not complied with the agreement and bemoaned the sufferings and undue hardship the neglect has meted out on the youths.
A chief in the community said: “We have been engaging OERL on the issue of non-compliance, but they kept coming up with their CSR programmes, which has nothing to do with compliance with the NCDMB’s act.
“We have engaged with them on three occasions in NCDMB’S office in Eket, and they were given directives to go and comply with the law, which they refused. Now, the youths have decided to engage different organisations to come to their aid. Oriental Energy Resources Limited is the cause of what you are seeing, and if anything happens, they should be held responsible.”
