Foreign investors in the oil-rich Niger Delta are said to be moving fabrication jobs outside of the region, denying much-needed employment to the region’s unemployed and under-employed .
A petition by the Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change (NDIMRC) named two Korean companies who, petition signers said, failed to employ locals from the region.
The petition was signed by Nelly Emma, President; John Sailor, Secretary; and Stanley Mukoro, P.R.O. - all of the Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change.
The companies cited in the petition were Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI)- both have signed contracts with Egina FPSO. Samsung is a shipbuilder, engineering, procurement and construction giant.
“We are aware that Total, the operator of the block did not consider any site in the Niger Delta suitable for this project during the tender process that culminated with the award of contract to SHI,” the Niger Delta group wrote. “However, studies indicate Niger Delta has very good seaports capable of hosting the FPSO integration such as Oron, Onne and Warri just to mention a few.”
The petition was signed by Nelly Emma, President; John Sailor, Secretary; and Stanley Mukoro, P.R.O. - all of the Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change.
The companies cited in the petition were Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI)- both have signed contracts with Egina FPSO. Samsung is a shipbuilder, engineering, procurement and construction giant.
“We are aware that Total, the operator of the block did not consider any site in the Niger Delta suitable for this project during the tender process that culminated with the award of contract to SHI,” the Niger Delta group wrote. “However, studies indicate Niger Delta has very good seaports capable of hosting the FPSO integration such as Oron, Onne and Warri just to mention a few.”
The letter writers reminded the Petroleum Minister of a similar scenario in the ERHA deepwater project operated by Esso, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil Corporation, where Aker Solutions was to develop an onshore Umbilical Plant as part of the Nigerian Content initiative but unfortunately, the plant was located outside the Niger Delta, adding to the area’s high unemployment and heightening security concerns in the region.
“The question is how long will the Niger Delta people continue to suffer this injustice at the hand of multinationals?” the letter writers demanded to know. “How do we engage the growing army of youths meaningfully to minimize criminal activities? All the big engineering firms outside the Niger Delta should be ordered to relocate to the region and contribute to its human and social development,” they stressed.
The value of the FPSO pact is estimated between $3.5 and $4 billion. The Egina project expects to complete in 51 months.
The petitioners called the failure to provide jobs “the height of injustice” and as such, the IOCs and Contractors involved should be directed to rescind such actions as a measure correcting years of injustice and explore options of executing these projects in the Niger Delta to create employment and absorb the army of youths already trained by the Amnesty Program.
The group vowed to resist any attempt to execute the projects outside the region. “We want to make it very clear that we are not going to allow these projects to be executed outside the Niger Delta region.”
“The question is how long will the Niger Delta people continue to suffer this injustice at the hand of multinationals?” the letter writers demanded to know. “How do we engage the growing army of youths meaningfully to minimize criminal activities? All the big engineering firms outside the Niger Delta should be ordered to relocate to the region and contribute to its human and social development,” they stressed.
The value of the FPSO pact is estimated between $3.5 and $4 billion. The Egina project expects to complete in 51 months.
The petitioners called the failure to provide jobs “the height of injustice” and as such, the IOCs and Contractors involved should be directed to rescind such actions as a measure correcting years of injustice and explore options of executing these projects in the Niger Delta to create employment and absorb the army of youths already trained by the Amnesty Program.
The group vowed to resist any attempt to execute the projects outside the region. “We want to make it very clear that we are not going to allow these projects to be executed outside the Niger Delta region.”
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