Some Edo residents under the platform of Concerned Edo Youths yesterday shut down the office of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Benin over the alleged marginalisation of host communities.
The protesters from 52 communities barricaded the entrance to the office and carried placards with various inscriptions such as “NPDC, enough is enough,” “PIB law must be adhered to strictly, NPDC;” “Our protest is our right”.
The protesters slaughtered a cow at the entrance with which they cooked rice and shared it among themselves.
The leader of the protesters, Ovbokhan Igbinovia, from the Okhoromi community, said the host communities had not felt the impact of the company.
“Our youths, our children are not being employed in the company. Series of letters have been written to them since last year, but they have not responded. Roads in the communities are not tarred while schools are not being renovated. This protest is for them to recognise us as host communities.
“Our demand is that NPDC must empower and engage our youths, awarding the maintenance contract of NPDC Headquarters office, Benin to a company in Kaduna is fraudulent and a total disregard of our local content rights under the PIB law.”
Responding on behalf of the company, Mr Nowe Dumbra from the community relations department, said the management would invite the protesters as soon as possible to address their grievances.
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