WARRI/Nigeria: Forum of Concerned Indigenes of Oil Producing Communities has taken a stand against what they perceive as an imposition within their community.
The forum, led by Oritsejolomi Edema (Chairman) and Amorighoye Ezekiel (Secretary), has voiced its concerns and objections regarding the establishment of the Iwere Host Community Development Trust, which they assert contravenes the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) signed into law in 2021.
The forum highlights that the PIA explicitly provides for the establishment of Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) for oil producing communities. According to them, the Iwere Host Community Trust is illegitimate, being solely created by the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, who also unilaterally compiled its membership.
Furthermore, the Forum of Concerned Indigenes of Oil Producing Communities asserts that the Palace of the Olu of Warri has been attempting to push this perceived illegality onto the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). They insist that this matter should be thoroughly examined and validated by the relevant authorities.
The group’s objections have not gone unnoticed by the host communities near the Otumara Oil Fields and Flow Station. These communities have openly resisted what they view as an unacceptable charade by the Palace. They firmly demand that the NUPRC refrain from officially recognizing the Olu’s actions as legitimate. Instead, they advocate for the establishment of separate Host Community Development Trusts for the Otumara and Ikpere regions, in accordance with the PIA, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), and NUPRC’s prescribed framework.
The Forum emphasizes that the NUPRC must strictly adhere to the provisions of the PIA and its accompanying regulations. They stress that any actions outside the PIA are in violation of the act and should not be tolerated.
The Forum of Concerned Indigenes of Oil Producing Communities points out that the Palace’s actions demonstrate either a lack of understanding or a deliberate attempt to manipulate the situation. They assert that the term “host community” does not equate to the entire Itsekiri Ethnic nation and should not be treated as such.
The group argues that the Olu’s actions have created a trust that includes the entire Itsekiri nation as one host community, which they find to be fraudulent and beyond the scope of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021. This, they say, allows any Itsekiri community, whether host to oil facilities or not, to claim recognition by NUPRC, thereby undermining the rights of genuine oil-bearing communities.
The Forum of Concerned Indigenes of Oil Producing Communities also raises concerns about a perceived double standard by the Palace. They cite the case of Abigborodo and NPDC, where the Palace did not interfere, as opposed to the situation with Ugborodo, Deghele, and Ugboegungun, where they allege preferential treatment.
In response to these allegations, the Forum accuses the Palace of inciting uninformed chiefs and individuals within the Itsekiri land against prominent Itsekiri citizens who have voiced their opposition to the Olu’s actions in Ugborodo, Deghele, and Ugboegungun. They further accuse the Palace of sponsoring protests, campaigns of calumny, blackmail, and character assassination against those who oppose its actions.
The Forum concludes by asserting that the Olu of Warri and his supporters do not have the authority to make decisions on behalf of host communities. They emphasize that the law must prevail, and the Palace is advised to operate within the bounds of the law.
