By Haris Okon.
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has issued a stern warning to Oriental Resource Limited, an indigenous oil company, to comply with the community content law or face disruptions to its operations in Akwa Ibom state.
In a petition signed by the CDHR state chairman, Comrade Ndifreke Afangide, the group accused Oriental Resource Limited of ignoring the pleas of the host community in Mbo Local Government Area, leaving them to suffer hardship, deprivation, and marginalization.
The CDHR also alleged that the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) is complicit in Oriental Resource Limited’s non-compliance, accusing the regulatory body of working “hands in gloves” with the oil firm to deny the community its rights.
The petition demands that Oriental Resource Limited and NCDMB take immediate action to investigate the non-compliance, enforce compliance, and provide compensation to the affected communities.
The CDHR has given NCDMB an ultimatum of 72 hours to address the situation, threatening to mobilize the youth of Mbo LGA and Akwa Ibom State to protest, organize a nationwide campaign to expose NCDMB’s complicity, and file a lawsuit against NCDMB and Oriental Resource Limited.
The petition reads in part, “Despite numerous agreements and resolutions reached at meetings held on 23rd October 2023 and November 2024 at your zonal office in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, Oriental Energy Resources Limited has brazenly ignored the pleas of the host community of Mbo LGA, leaving them to suffer untold hardship, deprivation, and marginalization. This is totally unacceptable!
“We demand that you take immediate, decisive, and far-reaching action to:
– Investigate the non-compliance by Oriental Energy Resources Limited
– Take necessary enforcement actions to ensure compliance
– Provide compensation to the affected communities
“As the regulatory body responsible for ensuring compliance with the NOGICD Act 2010, NCDMB must take immediate action to address this situation. We will not stand by and watch NCDMB compromise with Oriental Energy Resources Limited, potentially plunging Akwa Ibom State into chaos.
“We are putting you on notice that if NCDMB fails to take immediate action within 72 hours of receipt of this letter, we will be forced to take drastic measures, including:
– Mobilizing the youth of Mbo LGA and Akwa Ibom State to take to the streets in protest
– Organizing a nationwide campaign to expose NCDMB’s complicity in Oriental Energy Resources Limited’s non-compliance
– Filing a lawsuit against NCDMB and Oriental Energy Resources Limited for their failure to comply with the NOGICD Act 2010 and other relevant treaties.”
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