BREAKING: Ndokwa/Ijaw Youths Alert Sterling Company On Imminent Shutdown In Delta

A group operating under the auspices of Ndokwa East Ijaw Nation Movement (NEINM) has again alerted the management of Sterling Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited that unless their demands are met within two weeks else be ready to face total shutdown of their activities in Delta State. The Liberator Newspapers Worldwide can report. 

The two weeks ultimatum was contained in a letter signed by Comr. Ebolo Samuel, Chairman of the group and Hon. Okwuwa Ezechi, Secretary in which the Governors of Delta and Bayelsa states and all relevant security agencies have been copied. 

According to the letter, the group noted that Sterling Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited should urgently  commence a process of ensuring that Burutu, Bomadi, Patani Ekeremor and Ndokwa East Local Government Areas in Delta and Bayelsa states are taken care of via the various demands, adding that anything other than this will lead to the shutting down of the company’s operations in Delta, stressing that this is the only available option as they have been silent and patient for too long. 

The statement letter reads below in full:

NDOKWA EAST IJAW NATION MOVEMENT

HEAD OFFICE: No. 13 Niger Street, Okpai Oluchi, Ndokwa East LGA

t: 08030988493; 08038867523

e: ndokwaeastijawnation@gmail.com

BRANCH OFFICE:  No. 8 Court Road, Burutu, Burutu LGA, Delta State

31 – 08 – 2022 

The Managing Director

Sterling Exploration and Energy 

Production Company Limited

Victoria Island, Lagos

Through:

The Base Manager

Sterling Exploration and Energy 

Production Company Limited

Kwale Base Office

Umuseti, Kwale

Delta State

Sir,

RE: 14 DAYS ULTIMATUM

INTRODUCTION OF OUR ASSOCIATION AND DEMAND FOR CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PROJECTS, CLEANING OF OUR WATER WAYS BORNE OUT OF THE POLLUTION OCCASIONED BY YOUR BARGES/VESSELS HAULING CRUDE AND OTHER PETROLEUM PRODUCTS ON OUR RESPECTIVE WATERWAYS AND PAYMENT OF TENEMENT RATES, MARINE LEVY/TAXES TO THE FOLLOWING LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS – EKEREMOR, BURUTU, BOMADI, PATANI AND NDOKWA EAST

The above captioned subject contained in our letter dated 22/02/2022 refers.

Recall that on your receipt of our letter of 22/02/2022 on the above subject wherein we issued 14 days’ notice and ultimatum for your company to comply with our demands enumerated therein, our association staged a peaceful protest on the River Niger and at your YADE BADGE loading and offloading facility in Okpai, Ndokwa East, L.G.A. on the 15th day of March, 2022, and another protest on 23rd day of March, 2022. 

Pursuant to the above civil action embarked upon by us, the security agencies led by the Nigerian Navy attempted twice to midwife a settlement between our association and your company. First at the Local Government Council, Aboh, Ndokwa East L.G.A and the second at the Nigerian Navy Ship Delta (NNS DELTA) Warri.

In each of those meetings, your company formally requested that a short time be given within which to resolve the issues and demands contained in our letter of agitation mentioned above and consequently revert to us through the Commander, NNS Delta.

This month of August, 2022 makes it six (6) clear months of your silence. Your company and her management has either refused and/or neglected to heed to our demands. You have also failed to reach out to us as agreed through the Commander, NNS Delta on any step taken or progress made.

This we submit is unacceptable to us and the good people of Burutu, Bomadi, Patani, Ekeremor and Ndokwa East L.G.A which we represent. We have waited for too long. Our patience has been stretched beyond limits.

In the circumstance and at the risk of repetition, we demand the following as contained in our letter of 22/02/2022:

1. JIV – Joint Investigative Visit – of the stretch of our waterways in the 5 LGA’s listed above where your barges operate to ascertain the level of pollution done by you for the purpose of payment of compensation to our communities;
2. Immediate cleanup of the waterways after the JIV above and restoration of the ecosystem to support fishing for our local communities which is their source of economic mainstay;
3. Corporate Social Responsibility Projects in our various coastal communities in the 5 LGA’s.
4. Payment of Tenement Rates to our Local Governments and other ancillary tax to be determined and levied by the councils as prescribed by law;
5. Shore protection for our coastal communities which is in a deplorable state as a result of constant and daily movement of your vessels.

Be warned that these demands must be met within 2 weeks of your receipt of this letter. Your failure once again to so do shall constrain us to do just one thing: ‘SHUT DOWN YOUR OPERATIONS FOR ALL TIME’. 

BE FURTHER WARNED.

Yours faithfully,

Signed:

Comarade Ebolo Samuel

Chairman

08148938558

Hon. Okwuwa Ezechi

Secretary

08030988493

CC:

1. The Executive Governor of Delta State, Government House Asaba
2. The Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, Government House, Yenagoa
3. The Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Camp Porbeni, Agudama-Epie, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
4. Ministry of Oil and Gas, Delta State
5. Ministry of Oil and Gas, Bayelsa State
6. Department of State Security Services, Asaba 
7. Department of State Security Services, Yenagoa
8. The Chairman, Delta State Land and Waterways Security Committee, Asaba
9. The Chairman, Bayelsa State Land and Waterways Security Committee, Yenagoa
10. The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, Asaba
11. The Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, Yenagoa
12. Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Force, Delta State Command, Asaba
13. Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Force, Bayelsa State Command, Yenagoa
14. Joint Tax Force, JTF, Delta State Command, Asaba
15. Joint Tax Force, JTF, Bayelsa State Command, Yenagoa
16. The Commandant, NNS Delta, Nigeria Navy Command, Warri, Delta State
17. The Executive Chairman, Ndokwa East LGA, Delta State
18. The Executive Chairman, Ekeremor LGA, Bayelsa State
19. The Executive Chairman, Patani LGA, Delta State
20. The Executive Chairman, Bomadi LGA, Delta State
21. The Executive Chairman, Burutu LGA, Delta State