The Asere community in Arogbo-Ijaw in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State has expressed concern over the threat to peace and security of their environment by an indigenous oil firm, Conoil Producing Limited.
The people claimed that the oil firm was forcing its way to carry out oil operations around their environment without adherence to the procedures and guidelines prescribed by the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.
This was contained in a joint statement signed by the leaders of the communities, including the Chairman of the Ijaw National Congress, Ondo State chapter, Bonsuwe Ominidougha; Chairman of INC, Lagos State chapter, Ebitimi Dio-Posibi; and Chairman of Arogbo-Ijaw Community Organisation, James Ashida.
They stated that Conoil had refused to directly hold discussions and negotiations with the host community, Asere, despite efforts by the people to ensure a peaceful atmosphere in the area.
The community has, therefore, called on the Federal Government to intervene and caution Conoil as all attempts for a meeting with the oil company in Lagos were treated with disdain and contempt by its officials.
The statement read in part, “We want to notify the Federal Government and the world at large that Conoil Producing Limited’s impending oil operations in Asere Community, Arogbo-Kingdom, Ese-Odo Local Government Area, Ondo State, have constituted threats to peace and security.
“This is necessitated by the company’s approach without due process.”
The oil-host community complained that Conoil’s brazen impunity had resulted in protests, which had been countered with brute force, intimidation and harassment of residents.
They warned that the tactics deployed by Conoil to arrest, detain and brutalise the aggrieved sons and daughters of the community for staging protests against the invasion of their land with extractive activities are inimical to the peace and security of Asere and its environs.
“The Conoil Producing Limited has not directly negotiated with land owners, the host community (Asere community). This has generated a lot of protests which have been countered by arrests and the use of naked and brute force against protesters.
“Up till today, there is no Environmental Impact Assessment in place. The EIA must be done by the Department of Petroleum Resources certified consultants, which involves the DPR representatives, Federal Ministry of Environment, landowners and the immediate community.
“Our attempts to meet with Conoil Producing Limited at its headquarters in Lagos were greeted with utter disdain and hostile rejections.
“As a result of this, we hereby, unreservedly submit that Conoil Producing Limited should suspend its planned operations in Asere community pending when all the issues mentioned above are amicably resolved.”
Efforts to get the comments of the spokesman for Conoil, Abiodun Azeez, on Monday, proved abortive as someone, who answered a call placed on his phone by our correspondent claimed that he (Azeez) was in a meeting as of the time of filing this report.