By Amos Okioma
The Ifalbobou Revolutionary Movement, (IRM) has expressed concerns over operations of First Exploration and Petroleum Development Company, (First E&P) within the KEFFES host communities in Bayelsa.
KEFFES, is an acronym for eight Chevron host communities in Bayelsa comprising Koluama 1 2, Ezetu 1 2, Foropa, Fish Town, Ekeni and Sangana located along the Atlantic coastline within Bayelsa.
First E&P in 2015 acquired the two oil blocks OML 85 and 86 from Chevron Nigeria Limited.
The group said that they had safety concerns on the rig deployed at the operational area by First E&P and later withdrew an ultimatum on the grounds that stakeholders had intervened to resolve the concerns it expressed.
It will be recalled that a rig explosion at an oilfield operated by Chevron in the area in January 2012 ignited a fire that burnt down the ill-fated KS-Eandeavor rig and devastated the ecosystem.
IRM had claimed that First E&P entered the communities and began drilling operations without conducting the mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to determine the health impact of its activities on the host communities.
Reacting to the allegation, Mr Mathew Sele-Epri, the chairman of KEFFES Regional Development Foundation (KRDF), constituted to interface with oil firms, dismissed the group as self-serving.
Sele-Epri said that the Foundation was a creation of the KEFFES communities to liaise with First E&P and other oil firms operating in the area and hence the allegations of shielding the company was baseless.
According to Sele-Epri, the community leadership has a written Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which came into operations shortly after the acquisition of the oil firm.
He said that Chevron had conducted EIA on the oil blocks prior to divestment adding that First E&P had conducted baseline studies before commencement of drilling.
“The KRDF under my leadership holds firmly to the principles of transparency of truth, the allegations are totally false, the oil firm has an existing cordial relationship with First E&P guided by an MoU.
“The community was given employment slots and we cannot be silent when there is misinformation, the group is self-seeking and their allegations and claims have no basis.
“The community and its leadership remain committed to maintaining peace to retain the interest of investors and attract additional investment to the KEFFES communities.”
