A/Ibom: Pay Our Entitlements To Avoid Hostility- Ex-militant Tells Oil Coy

By Uko Etim, Uyo

Former agitators under the umbrella body of Akwa Ibom Ex-militants Forum have called on oil companies operating in the state to pay them their entitlements to avoid a face-off with them.

The group frowned at the alleged injustice, discrimination, and diversion of royalties meant for them including other youths of the State.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Secretary of the group, Comrade Sunny Afiah, and obtained in Uyo on Thursday.

According to the statement, the actions of the oil companies were “against the provisions of the Nigeria Oil and Gas Content Law and social laws.”

The statement reads in parts: “It would be recalled that we have written several letters to these multinational oil companies operating within the shores of Akwa Ibom State including offshore to consider our qualified members for employment and contracts as contained in the Local Content Law but they rather turn deaf ears and rather to awards such contract and employments to none indigenes of Akwa Ibom State.

“It could be recalled that Total E&P Nigeria Ltd which operates in Ikike Field (OML 99), Amenam Field, Ofon 2, and Usan Fields in Akwa Ibom State has refused to sign a working MOU with the host communities in the state since the last one expired in 2014; this is unacceptable and we condemn it in strongest terms.

“We, therefore, call on all the Multinational Oil & Gas companies and Oil Servicing companies operating in Akwa Ibom State to do the needful by engaging the Akwa Ibom State indigenes and our members in the oil companies as contained in the local content laws and also engage indigenous contractors for jobs reserved to them.

“We demand immediate award of surveillance contracts to us for the security of oil facilities within the state both onshore and offshore.

“This is as a result of the current trend of insecurity and oil theft recorded in the Niger Delta region in recent times.

“We also call on NNPC Limited, NPDC and the federal government to do the needful by engaging us for the protection of the oil facilities.

“This is because we are very familiar with the terrain and creeks within the Niger Delta region.

“This is to inform Total E&P Nigeria Ltd, NNPCL, NPDC, and the federal government that it is time to engage Akwa Ibom Ex-Militants in positive ventures as we cannot fold our arms and watch injustice continue in our land unabated; neither are we going to continue to be beggars amid abundance anymore.”

However, the group stressed that If nothing is done their concerns are pointed out, they will mobilize their members and embark on mass protest.