By Ochuko Akuopha
ASABA — Host communities of Oando Energy Resources Limited in Ndokwa East and Ndokwa West Local Government Areas of Delta State on Monday protested the alleged non-payment of their three per cent Operating Expenses (OPEX) Development Funds for 2024, 2025 and 2026.
The communities — Okpai, Beneku and Umusadege — staged separate peaceful protests, urging the management of the company to urgently intervene and resolve the matter.
Comrade Bernard Ibuaka, Chairman of the Okpai Oando Committee; Mr Innocent Okpor of the Community Development Committee, Beneku Clan; and Mr Amuma Victor, Chairman of Umusadege Community on Oando, who spoke separately, expressed displeasure over the delay in the release of the funds.
Meanwhile, a letter signed by the Chairman, Okpai Oando Committee, Comrade Bernard Ibuaka, and the Secretary, Chief Favour Okeleke, and addressed to the General Manager, District, Oando Energy Resources Ltd, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, expressed displeasure and frustration over the alleged failure of the company to release the OPEX funds.
“It is unacceptable and disappointing that despite repeated engagements and reminders to your company by members of the Ndokwa Host Community Development Trust, these funds remain unpaid,” the letter said.
The letter noted that the prolonged delay had caused significant disruption to development efforts within the communities.
It said: “The continued withholding of these funds has led to growing tension, dissatisfaction, and unrest among community members.
“Projects that were meant to improve livelihoods and infrastructure have been stalled, thereby creating avoidable hardship and economic losses for the host communities.
“Furthermore, the failure to release the funds has deprived the communities of the opportunity to invest the statutory 20% reserve funds for a period of approximately three (3) years, thereby denying the communities the interest and other financial benefits that would have accrued during the period.
“In view of the above, we wish to state unequivocally that the current situation can no longer be tolerated and therefore we demand the immediate release of the outstanding 3% Opex owed to the Host communities in accordance with the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and the NUPRC regulations, 2022.”
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