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Fuel scarcity looms as Delta community paralyses depot operations

By staff 08/02/2012 23:55:00

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By Emma Arubi
WARRI—LOADING of petroleum products from Matrix Energy Limited Tank Farm in Ifiekporo community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, was disrupted, yesterday, by hundreds of protesting women and youths.

They alleged refusal by the management of the company to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the duly constituted executive body of the community after almost two years of operations on their land.

But the site Engineer of Matrix Energy, Mr. Musa Datugal told Vanguard on telephone that the problem was about the factionalisation of the executive in the community.

He said: “One faction is led by one Pastor David Okoturoh and enjoys the support of the community that is protesting while the other faction, led by one Mr. Charles Omadeli, has the support of the palace of the Warri monarch.”

Pastor Okoturoh told Vanguard that their main grouse with the company was that they refused to enter into negotiation with the appointed community executives after series of letters and efforts to achieve a good working relationship.

The secretary of the community urged Matrix Energy to dialogue with the Okoturoh-led executive for peace to reign because they had been dealing with the wrong group thereby depriving the community of all their due rights and privileges.

It took the concerted effort of soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, Delta Barracks, Effurun, led Capt. Nuhu to restore normalcy as they cleared the blocked access road to the company’s premises.

Meanwhile, the Commander of the 3rd Battalion, Col. Nwankwo has slated a meeting with the contending parties to seek an amicable resolution of the logjam, saying that he hoped that the meeting would yield the desired result.

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