Niger Delta Activists Forum has called on some multinational oil firms thinking of divestment to, first of all, consider the settlement of claims of their host communities.
In a statement, the forum also listed spillages, outstanding Global Memorandum of Understanding, GMoUs, right of ways, legacy projects and community local content concerns under the PIA, that the multinational oil firms have not attended to.
The forum called on them to factor the interests of their host communities in the divestment processes in the interest of peace and safety.
They expressed displeasure that the multinationals remained oppressive, defiant, adamant and elusive over their appeals.
They feared that the oil majors would not translate or factor in their outstanding liabilities arising from their unpaid claims and damages to the new operators, which is why they have petitioned President Bola Tinubu, security agencies and other stakeholders about their various appeals.
They said that the attitude of the multinationals was a recipe for anarchy, unrest and chaos because host communities have decided not to allow the new owners/operators of these oil and gas assets within their ancestral lands.
“We believe that for a proper divestment to happen, transparency and stakeholders inclusion is necessary, without which operational peace for the new owners within these oil host communities domain cannot be guaranteed,” they said.
They have insisted that host communities are supposed to be the chief stakeholders in the divestment whose views, opinions and positions should be factored in because they hold the true inventory of not only the assets but liabilities of the divesting companies, especially pertaining to claims, damages, pre and post Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) infractions and others.
They further warned that if these actions by the companies are allowed to snowball into full blown anarchy, then crude oil production will be affected, stalling national budget and planning although it is not their desire.
The group has therefore called on them to discuss with host communities in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria with a view to resolving all thorny issues before take-off of their successor firms.
The statement was signed by four leaders, including the convener, Comrade Success Jack; national women leader, Sheila Tamuno; and two other leaders from Bayelsa and Edo States, and addressed to the chief executive officer of Upstream Regulatory Commission
Forum tasks oil firms to consider host communities’ claims, other concerns before divesting
