Irri community in Delta State gives Agip 10 days to vacate their land for violating mutual agreement

PEOPLE of the Irri community in Isoko South Council Area of Delta State have threatened to shut down operations of the Nigeria Agip Oil Company over an alleged violation of agreement between them.

Across the Niger delta, local communities and oil companies frequently clash over spills, neglect and the refusal of the multinationals to fund social development programmes. To address the crisis, of late, oil companies have been entering into agreements with communities under which local youths protect their installations in exchange for cash payments and welfare programmes.

Over the last week, however, several Irri community organisations handed Agip a 10-day ultimatum to vacate their land or face mass protest and the occupation of its facilities. They are accusing Agip, which operates a flow station and other oil installations in the kingdom, of violating agreements between both parties.

Among their allegations are the continued casualisation of Irri indigenes working in the company over the past 16 years and Agip's refusal to employ qualified indigenes on a permanent basis. Community leaders also alleged that Agip had been awarding contracts for catering, surveillance and other services to non-indigenes, thereby depriving the community of job and empowerment opportunities.

Itiako Ikpokpo, the chairman of Isoko South Local Government Area has since been trying to avert a major crisis between the community and Agip. Over the weekend, he called a meeting between representatives of both parties in Oleh to look into the matter and nip the crisis in the bud.

However, Agip shunned the meeting despite being invited, as the company was neither represented nor did it send word to explain its absence. Speaking at the forum, Chief Godday Igorigo, the chairman of Irri community, ventilated the community’s grievances, saying Agip had continued to create security challenges by dishonouring its agreement with Irri.

He listed the company’s sins to include refusal to sign a new memorandum of understanding with the community since the expiration of the last one in 2016. Chief Igorigo also accused Agip of refusing to award scholarship to selected Irri students over the last five years.

In addition, Chief Igorigo stated that the company had continued to employ foreigners to do jobs for which the community had surplus expertise. Chief Igorigo further alleged that Irri and its people were worse off with Agip as the company’s presence had not brought any economic and infrastructural development to the land.

This, according to him, is in the face of monumental health challenges arising from oil exploration and its attendant degradation of the local soil. He further said the community was angry over Agip’s gross nonchalance and outright disregard of its people, including the king.

However, Mr Ikpokpo appealed to the leadership of the community to exercise restraint and allow the local government to handle the matter amicably. He blamed the growing trend of frosty relationship between oil giants and host communities on the divide-and-rule tactics of the companies.

Mr Ikpokpo expressed concern over Agip’s absence at the meeting despite being duly invited. He warned that the local government would not tolerate situations where companies deploy all manners of subterfuge in their dealings with host communities which in most cases result in unpredictable reactions and a breakdown of law and order.