Tension is currently brewing at the Bonny Oil and Gas Terminal (BOGT) belonging to the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) where allegations are rife that indigenes of its host community, Bonny Local Government Area, are being targeted for sack in its downsizing drive.

The company is reportedly predicating this downsizing drive on the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. A position that stakeholders view with skepticism given the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration’s stance that business entities should desist from worsening the economic situation in the country by laying off staff.   

Moreso, several economic stimulus packages such as grants, credit facilities, tax rebates or holidays, among others underscore the Federal Government’s determination to ensure that the unemployment rate in the country does not worsen as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Some of the affected workers, who were said to have been arbitrarily laid off recently, however, disclosed under condition of anonymity that indigenes were being aggressively laid off to create a vacuum for non-indigenes when the imminent renewal of the contract for the general maintenance of the terminal takes place.

Kristina Reports reliably learnt that, so far, about 14 indigenes have already reportedly been laid off as contract staff from the company.

Curiously, 170 non-indigenes, who were contract staff in the company, were allegedly retained while the indigenes were sacked.  

Kristina Reports reliably learnt that other indigenes still working there have been living in fear of being laid off from their jobs with what is currently happening at the company.

These set of contract staff allegedly being sacked by the company are responsible for the maintenance services across the BOGT in Bonny Island.

Efforts by Kristina Reports to get the reaction of SPDC through its officials in Bonny proved abortive as at the time of this report.

A knowledgeable source in the matter, who preferred anonymity, told Kristina Reports that “the company seems to have a problem with Bonny people. If not the local content law said that 30% of business opportunities in a project should go to the host communities and this includes employment.”

“How can you sack almost 50% of your employees that are from your host communities? And this is just a fraction of the total number which is less than even 10% of your total workforce. How about the 60/40 employment quota in the community? Is this right?”