We Support Ocean Marine To Handle Pipeline Surveillance Contract – HOSTCOM

The leadership of Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM) on Wednesday, in Warri, Delta State, have thrown their weight behind Ocean Marine Solutions Limited to handle the pipeline surveillance contract in OML30.

BigPen Online learnt that this is coming on backdrop of alleged sponsored protest against the recent re-award of the pipeline surveillance contract by the Federal Government to the firm, owned by a Niger Deltan, Captain Hosa Okunbo.

In a statement signed by the National Chairman, Chief Benjamin Tamaranebi, National Secretary, Dr. Peter Egedegbe, Delta State Chairman, Evangelist Gabriel Isibeluo, and seven others, HOSTCOM also demanded  for direct engagement of indigenes, youths and ex-militants from the oil producing communities.

HOSTCOM condemned the unauthorized and illegal protest by some unknown youths at Asaba against Ocean Marine and Captain Hosa Okunbo over the pipeline surveillance job, and called on the Federal Government to disregard the falsehood and misleading publication said to have been made by unknown youths and ex-militants who are not from host communities.

“The major concern of HOSTCOM therefore is to ensure that the direct indigenes of these communities housing these critical facilities/pipelines are engaged directly instead of the previous cases whereby persons were engaged from outside the communities. Youths and ex-militants who are indigenes of oil producing communities should be engaged to watch over the facilities/pipelines.

“The capacity of Ocean Marine Solutions to deliver on the Trans-Forcados Pipeline surveillance is a laudable idea that is welcomed and supported by all stakeholders. The success story of the company in securing and maintaining uninterrupted operations of critical assets such as the Escravos-Warri Refinery and Bonny-Port Harcourt crude oil pipelines is a clear attestation of the company’s leadership in the oil and gas and maritime industry”.

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They also called on FG to direct International Oil Companies, IOCs, to relocate their Headquarters to Niger Delta, passage of the PIB bill, which contains 10% Equity Participation Fund for oil and gas communities and prompt payment of Gas Flares Penalty fine to host communities before 2019 general elections.