Ilaje youths stall oil exploration in Ondo

Having invaded the Mr. P production platform of Conoil in Obe, about six metres offshore of the area, the youths were said to have sent away members of staff.Oodu Trust learnt that the protesting youths conducted themselves in a peaceful manner while the protest lasted, but they vowed not to allow exploration activities until their […]

Having invaded the Mr. P production platform of Conoil in Obe, about six metres offshore of the area, the youths were said to have sent away members of staff.Oodu Trust learnt that the protesting youths conducted themselves in a peaceful manner while the protest lasted, but they vowed not to allow exploration activities until their demands were met.

The spokesperson of the communities, Mr Rawa Felix, explained in a telephone interview that the action of the youth   followed the expiration of the ultimatum given to the company.

According to Felix, “the communities and the oil company had over two years ago, signed an MoU that was supposed to have been in operation since then.“Some of the components of the MoU were scholarship to students from the communities, skill acquisition/training and employment for the people of the area.

“Two years after signing the MoU, the oil company had not done anything to implement the document despite its 25,000 barrels per day production in the area.” He said the youths took the action because several meetings held with the firm were not successful, adding that “We gave them ultimatum and this is because we are peacemakers and we do not want to take the law into our hands.”

He lamented that this was the seventh year that the company had been exploring oil in their area without giving anything back to the community.