Community petitions against Addax Petroleum over trespass, exploration

The petition dated July 3, a copy of which was made available to Daily Trust noted that Addax Petroleum had explored oil in the community’s land for over 15 years without paying any form of compensation.
“The illegal trespass and activities of Addax Petroleum on our land has been characterised but not limited to health hazard to our community, oil spillage, pollution, acidic rain, aquatic extinction, and environmental degradation,” the community stated in the letter.
 They also noted that the company had perpetrated total negligence of its corporate social responsibilities, instead it indulges in mobilising militants against them thereby encouraging inter-communal clashes that led to a court case which they won.
“Addax Petroleum is a major threat to life in our community, hence the pollution, erosion, soil degradation and hazardous emission of gases that negatively affect our environment.”
 On a visit to Orsu-Obodo community yesterday, our correspondent observed the sadness expressed by some of the people in the community even on their faces. They pleaded not to say anything yet since the landlords, the traditional rulers and some chiefs, were not around.
 Many of them also declared interest to speak but not until the leaders have spoken.
 When our correspondent visited the Addax Company located along Oguta road on Friday, September 11, 2014 to confirm some of the reports, the security man on duty said that the day was not a day for visitors.
 The security man further said: “In fact the Community Relation Officer Onyeka Akame popularly called Kemo, an indigene whose duty it is to speak to you on the issue is not on seat now.”