Anambra Community, Oil Firm Disagree over payment of royalty
The people of Ogwu-Ikpele Community in Ogbaru Local Government Area, have accused Sterling Exploration and Energy Production Company (SEEPCO) an exploration firm of not honouring agreement between them.
The elders who registered their protest during a meeting with Mr Tony Ifeanya, Commissioner for Petroleum Resources in Awka on Thursday said urged the Anambra government to Intervene to avert breakdown of law and order.
Igwu-Ikpele Elders In Council who door through their lawyer, Mr Osteen Igbapike said SEEPCO had not paid the community royalty as agreed for some years.
Igbapike said people of the community came to demand for details of all the monies SEEPCO claimed it paid to the community and account number into which the money was paid.
They urged the Anambra government to impress it on SEEPCO to respect the laws of Nigeria and most importantly, maintain a smooth relationship with their host community.
They said they had earlier asked the company on the matter calling them to act but it was ignored by the oil giants.
“We appeal to Anambra State Government to intervene in the disrespectful manner SEEPCO limited is operating in our community to avoid truncating the already existing peace in the area
“We call for an urgent conduct of election for a new President General, PG, for the community as the tenure of the last PG has elapsed four years ago,” he said.
On his part, Mr Amaechi Aneke who represented SEEPCO had paid royalty to the community for 2022 and 2023.
Aneke expressed worry over the conflicting representatives from Ogwu-Ikpele Community noting that SEEPCO had transited from Global Memorandum of Understanding to Petroleum Industrial Act.
Reacting to the development, Ifeanya who was represented by Mrs Nkiru Nwankwor, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry promised full investigation into the matter.
She urged SEEPCO to furnish the ministry with details of payment made to the community including account numbers and list of members of the host community trust fund.
