Host communities of Oil Mining License (OML) 17 in Rivers State say they are ready to strategically engage with Heirs Holding Oil and Gas (HHOG), operator of OML 17, on the basis of mutual respect and delivery of social impact that would assuage the suffering of their people.  

The Onye Ishi Agwu of Igbo Kingdom, His Majesty, Eze Dr Samuel Amaechi, who spoke on behalf of the communities, stated this when a delegation of Heirs Holding Oil and Gas (HHOG) led by its Chief Executive Officer, Osa Igehon paid him a courtesy visit in his palace at Edegelem in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.

In attendance during the visit were the the member representing Etche Constituency 2 in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Tony Ejiogu, traditional rulers, religious leaders, women and youths drawn from the host communities.

Eze Amaechi, who is also the Rivers State Chairman of the Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities (TROMPCON), described the meeting as “timely” considering the frosty relationship that existed between the host communities and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), the previous managers of OML 17.

The revered traditional ruler emphasized the need for sustained dialogue between the company and its host communities, pointing out that it was necessary for a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to be signed between the HHOG and its hosts, which according to him, will embody the terms of agreement between the entities.

Responding, the CEO of Heirs Holdings Oil and Gas, Osayande Igiehon thanked the His Majesty, Eze Samuel Amaechi, and the leadership of the host communities for the hospitality accorded the company since its arrival in the area, assuring that such positive disposition would not be forgotten but will be reciprocated by the company.  

Igiehon informed that Heirs Holdings Oil and Gas (HHOG) was a socially responsible indigenous company that is fully aware of and takes seriously the yearnings of its host communities and, therefore, was seeking avenues for creating mutual beneficial relationships that would be a clear departure from the past.

He maintained that the company was poised to work harmoniously with the communities in the interest of achieving mutual economic benefits and improve the wellbeing of the people of the area who are directly impacted by its operations.  

Recall that the OML 17 host communities had expressed their anger over the attitude of the company towards them at a meeting held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Saturday, September 18, 2021.   

On his part, the member representing Etche Constituency 2 in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Tony Ejiogu who expressed satisfaction that an indigenous company was coming to take the place of Shell, warned against a repeat of the unsavoury divide and rule tactics of the global oil giant by HHOG.

He urged the management of HHOG to work for the betterment of the people, enjoining the company to deal directly with the recognized traditional rulers in the area to assure the integrity of its interface with the communities and also enable them capture people from the communities in its operations, stressing the need to engage an indigene of the area as Community Liaison Officer (CLO) that understands the needs of the people and setting aside an employment quota for its host communities.

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Also speaking, paramount ruler of one of the host communities, Chokota Town, His Highness, Eze Ishmael Nweke described the demands of the host communities as captured in the communique earlier issued by the host communities were immediate and required urgent attention, calling for a paradigm shift in its engagement template with its host communities.

Dr. Onyeche Chinwendu, who spoke on behalf of youths of the host communities, drew the attention of the management of HHOG to the plight of motorists and other commuters utilizing the road linking Igbo Kingdom with East-West Road, especially, the Eleme Interchange, appealing to them to intervene by fixing the road, regretting that the deplorable condition of the road was a challenge to the economic wellbeing of the people of the area.

Dr Chinwendu, who noted that development can only thrive in an atmosphere of peace, communicated the resolve of the youths of the host communities to be peaceful, law abiding and ensure that the company carries out her operations undisturbed, while thanking His Majesty, King Samuel N. Amaechi for leading the vanguard and creating the platform for the convivial meeting.