Edjeba Community Stages Peaceful Protest Against NPDC Over Alleged Marginalisation

By Ambrose Ologide

The host community of National Petroleum Development Company ( NPDC ) of Agbarha Warri community of Edjeba in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest against alleged marginalisation of the company in employment and awards of contracts to indigenes.

The people of the community in their numbers were seen at the gate of the company which was under key and lock at the time of filing this report.

Some of the protesters carried placards that read : ‘ NEPL (NPDC ) Employ our graduates ‘ ‘ NEPL ( OML 34 ) Stop This Marginalisation of Edjeba Community . ‘ ‘ We Demand Good Welfare Packages For All Contractors and Workers ‘
The Oghwuvwie (President) of Edjeba Community , Deacon Ejiro Ibuakevwe who spoke to our correspondent alleged that the company has marginalised the company in terms of employment and awards of contracts and that community has written several letters for employment of graduates and awards of contracts to the company to avail.

He alleged that indigenes of the community were only considered for menial jobs as he accused NPDC of secretly recruiting university graduates who he said were relations of the management staff who were non Deltans.

The aggrieved President of Edjeba Community further alleged that indigenous contractors were starved of contracts by the company.

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A woman leader in the community, Franca Okerenkporo who spoke to our correspondent, corroborated the allegations of the President General of the Community.

However efforts to hear from management of NPDC on these allegations were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.