Delta communities at loggerhead over OML 65 right of way

NAN-H-38
Ownership
Warri (Delta), Dec. 1, 2016 (NAN) Two communities, Ukpiovwin and Oghior both in Udu Local Government Area of Delta may be heading for a showdown once more over ownership of right of way of an Oil Mining Lease (OML).
Both communities are holding sway to the ownership of the land where spill and subsequent fire occurred recently in the Abura Flowline OML 65 operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).
Addressing newsmen on Thursday at the Ukpiovwin Community Town hall, the community’s President-General Mr Lucky Ejenavwo said that the briefing was sequel to the Nov. 29 publication in one of the national dailies by Oghior community.
According to him, the Oghior community had claimed to be the owner of the land where spill and subsequent fire occurred at Abura Flowline OML 65.
Ejenavwo, who briefed the media with youth and community elders in attendance, said that the publication was credited to the President-General of Oghior Community.
He insisted that the land belonged to Ukpiovwin.
“The publication by Oghior Community with respect to the oil spill and subsequent fire incident at Abura Flowline published on page 33 of the Vanguard Newspaper of Tuesday Nov. 29, is amusing,’’ he said.
He explained that the Abura Flowline OML 65 transverses seven communities which also included Emadadja, Ubogo, Ogbe-Udu, Ogolor-waterside and Ogolor-inland.
Ejenavwo, who is also a Surveillance Contractor, said that when spill occurred on the Abura Flowline, he drew the attention of the NPDC officials to the development.
“Following my report, NPDC on Oct. 27, send a team for the JIV text. The JIV text was concluded on Nov. 25.
“On Nov. 27, within the hours of 800 and 900 hours, my Youth Leader, Mr Adile James, called my cell phone to inform me that there was fire incident at the Abura Flowline where the spill occurred.
“I immediately sent a text message to the Manager, Security Department, NPDC and Warri Field Office (WFO) to send fire fighters to the scene.
“We make bold to say that the land where the spill and subsequent fire incident occurred at Abura Flowline OML 65, belongs to Ukpiovwin Community and not Oghior as claimed by Ghaghara and his cohorts,” he said.
He said that the publication as frivolous, baseless and a calculated attempt to cause disaffection between both communities.
Ejenavwo, however, appealed to the community to remain calm, while urging Nigerians including the NPDC to disregard the publication.
It would be recalled that both communities had earlier in the year engaged each other in a fight over land issue in which scores were injured. (NAN)
EDI/LAB/GY
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Edited by Lydia Beshel/Grace Yussuf