The chairman of Isoko South local government council, Itiako Ikpokpo, has called for the immediate disengagement of Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, HEOSL, operators of the Oil Mining Lease, OML 30 over what he referred to as unabated operational misconduct and deliberate refusal to implement provisions of the Global Memorandum of Understanding, GMOU entered into with host communities.
In a statement on Monday in Oleh, Ikpokpo who is also the Delta state chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON explained that HEOSL has become mindlessly irresponsible in its relationship with host communities and has reneged on virtually all of its commitment to host communities, a situation he noted has brought unrest, tension and chaos in the communities with ripple effect on the governance of the state and local government.
HEOSL’s incessant lies and disregard, according to the chairman, have become the greatest threat to the peace and security of the local government.
The chairman maintained that several attempts have been made by the Isoko South local government and other critical stakeholders to intervene between the community and host communities but to no avail.
“HEOSL has become an existential threat to the peace and security of the local government, breeding palpable anger and tension in communities where they operate in Isoko South.
“We have severally made effort to intervene and foster robust company-community relations, but the company has proven to be most untrustworthy, treacherous and unreliable.
“As chief security officer of the local government, I am therefore left with no choice than to call on the minister of petroleum and relevant authorities of the federal and state governments to immediately withdraw the services of HEOSL as operators of the OML 30 asset. It is the only way to regain host communities confidence in the exploration of crude oil in their areas.
“HEOSL can no longer be trusted to manage the asset. The earlier they are kicked out, the better for the peace and security of the local government,” he said.
