IYC wants OML-30 contract handed over to ex-agitators

The Ijaw Youths Council has urged the oil and gas security service provider, Ocean Marine Solution Limited, to hand over the OML 30 assets to the host communities.

The IYC, in a statement by its National Legal Adviser Igbeta Ayebakuro and National Spokesman Daniel Dasimaka, said the call was to tackle brewing crises in the communities.

Ex-agitators from the 111 communities of OML 30 had last week in Asaba protested what they described as an attempt by Ocean Marine to hijack a pipeline surveillance contract which thousands of youths were engaged in.

But the IYC said it would not be part of any agenda aimed at “undoing our people and conning them out of the opportunities and natural advantage that accrue them.

“The statement that came out of the council in the last two days, on the choice of some group of youths and former agitators from communities that fall within OML 30, who had embarked on a protest taking their plea to the Delta state government over their fears of being displaced and deprived of their legitimately guaranteed daily bread, by forces they consider to be using all means, including unlawful and brutal means, was not issued with an intent to support injustice against our own.

“Though, as we earlier noted, Ocean Marine and its owner, Captain Hosa Okunbo, are also from Niger Delta and we do not believe they should be discriminated in any form, but we must state, unequivocally, that the initial information provided by Ocean Marine and its drivers was less than truthful and we are of the view that inadequate information was provided to mislead the council.”