However, a Focal points Reports by Ezekiel Kagbala said the chairman of Neconde Energy Limited Dr. Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi whose company is currently operating the OML 42 Asset with NPDC Amarata JPMT in Warri Southwest Local Government Area of Delta State was widely reported as the Nigerian businessman who lavishly ordered 60 Billion Naira Luxury private Jet.
Unfortunately, Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi’s companies give little or no attention to the plight of his poor and starved host, Oml 42 communities. The communities present a sorrowful sight of neglect, no corporate social responsibility, and no PIA implementation.
It was alleged that Ernest’s company like other oil companies created division and disunity amongst the people just to exploit their resources, harvest Trillions of Naira, and deliberately keep the youths especially those educated ones in poverty.
The report that a Nigerian businessman, the CEO of Nest Oil, who is also the MD of Neconde Energy Limited, ordered 60 Billion Naira Luxury private Jet. It is good news that at least Ijaw communities are producing billionaires, the land is prosperous and other international oil companies can come in to invest.
The untold story is that Ijaw people particularly those in the domain of his operations, OML 42 Host Communities, Odidi 1, Odidi 2, Egwa 1 & Egwa 2, Batan and Jones Creek in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, where the money was allegedly made from are wallowing in multidimensional poverty.
FocalPoint Reports considers it a worthy project to lay bare the plight of the people as a partner to the overall progress and Development of the Niger Delta, particularly, the Ijaw communities that feed the nation. This is also a wakeup call for Ernest to pay his contractors, and create and support human capital development programs.
Severally, host communities to OML 42 have issued ultimatums to Neconde Energy Limited, the Nigeria operators of the OML42 asset, and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, asking for menial jobs to earn a living. Instead of addressing their needs sustainably, the business entities seemed to enjoy the profits accrued from the woes of the people.
The N60 Billion Luxury Jet shows that Delta State is richly blessed with what could sustain the entire state, create employment for many, and lift thousands of persons out of poverty, however, greedy men would always enrich themselves with the people’s resources and use what they have made to trample on their victims.
Neconde’s boss swims in billions and trillions yet cannot impact the lives of the people of the small communities where he makes Billions and Trillions. But has so many projects transforming and impacting lives in his home State where he makes nothing from.
His company makes a mockery of the people (community leaders) by giving selected few some miserable clearing, local security, and open boats’ contracts then calling them contractors to enable them to manage their state of poverty, at least to be better than their neighbors in the same Ijaw land where the people cannot enjoy their wealth.
Even the poverty management rubbish called a contract, they cry out in protest for the management of Neconde Energy Limited, Amarata to stop sidelining local contractors in the execution of jobs even as the company operates in their domain.
It could be recalled vividly, in March 2023, how the host communities in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, cried out in penury when the management of Neconde Amarata NPDC, JPMT, allegedly duplicated themselves into smaller enterprises and pretended to be bidding for contracts that should be awarded to local contractors.
It was obvious that Neconde never wanted to involve local contractors in the execution of jobs even in the community where they were operating. It was a situation where foreigners stylishly and ‘lobbyshly’ took what rightfully belonged to the people even denying them Jobs, development, and empowerment.
The communities despite being rich with crude oil deposit, has nothing to show, in term of developmental projects. Like Nigerian politicians, the companies focus on enriching themselves at the expense of the ordinary people who battle with untold hardship.
Shockingly, there is no single developmental project in OML 42 communities, no pure drinkable water, or hospital, and there are no quality schools in the area where Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi, companies are generating over $76 million for a private jet.
As we speak, youths from OML 42 communities cannot afford decent accommodations, they don’t have jobs because our laws are badly fashioned to make the poor poorer and the rich richer, and even the welfare of the workers of OML 42 facilities is the worse in term of salaries, and yet the company refuses to pay them.
As a matter of urgency, Ijaws must rise and fight to emaciate themselves from economic degradation, there cannot be peace without justice.
Neconde’s management can duplicate themselves into names like Amarata, Nestoil, and many more, so it would be inevitable for the people to call on the Federal Government to consider withdrawing their operational licenses.
