Remaining silent when truth is viciously violated by falsehood is not a strong suit of the promoters of Neconde Energy Ltd, a foremost independent oil and gas company with stakes in developed oil fields and gas reserves in the Niger Delta and Joint Venture partner of the NNPC Exploration and Production Limited, (NEPL), on the OML 42 Oil Asset.
Thus, when wilful and harmful falsehood masquerading as investigative journalism by a blog, FocalPoint Reports, alleged that Neconde Energy Ltd was impoverishing its host communities in the Delta, the company’s management now seeks to set the records straight.
In a rebuttal signed by its legal department, the company, which had been managing the OML 42 oil asset as a joint venture partner of the NNPC Exploration and Production Limited, (NEPL) since 12 years ago, states, "While we understand that any reasonably informed Nigerian or organization need not dig too deep to ascertain the true situation in OML42; the growing audacity of Ezekiel Kagbala (FocalPoint Reports) and the clandestine sponsors of his publications, in what appears to be an increasing display of willful intent to misinform the public and a malicious intent to malign business and persons; necessitates those records are set straight."
The company declares that it will not be deterred from its zero tolerance for corruption in the running of the asset and insistence on transparent developmental programmes such as the full implementation of the PIA (Petroleum Industry Act) for the benefit of the host communities. “Monies meant for developing the community must be deployed solely for that purpose. It must not enter private pockets. This is our stand,” the statement avers.
Continuing, the company, which has invested significant amounts in the asset with the support of astute professionals, businesses, and financial institutions without blemish, states that the Nigerian Petroleum Industry Act 2021 makes provisions for host communities that encourage social and economic development and aims to promote cooperation between the host communities and the petroleum asset operators.
Further, the company states that the PIA act stipulates that settlors (NEPL for OML 42) are required to make an annual contribution to the applicable community of 3% of its actual operating expenditure of the preceding year in the upstream petroleum operation affecting the community but, “The non-implementation of the law to support the development of the community within OML 42 is best provided by the accountable managers for OML 42 in the employ of NNPC Exploration and Production Limited, (NEPL).”
This, notwithstanding, the company states that before the PIA, it had funded the GMOU implementation and sustained the peace bonus that supported the payment of allowances to teachers in OML 42 communities, electrification projects, riverine school boats for primary schools, and training of community workers who have now been converted to E & P field professionals in OML 42 among other things.
While describing the reports as ‘greed-driven contract racketeering in collusion with certain elements’, Neconde Energy Ltd avers that the community leadership, opinion leaders, and responsible members of the community have condemned and dissociated themselves from the false reports.
The company maintains that the sustained blackmail of private investors and institutions would not deter it from doing only what is right and urges the public to disregard the falsehood being peddled by ‘these bastions of perfidy.’
