The Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has denied owing the Alesa-Eleme
community in Rivers State N36billion compensation as host to the Port
Harcourt
Refining Company (PHRC), one of its subsidiaries.
Reacting to
claims by one of the traditional rulers in the community over the compensation,
NNPC said yesterday that the report, which came after a purported meeting with
the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Board Chairman of the
corporation, Ibe Kachikwu, was erroneous.
A statement
by the corporation’s Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division, Ndu
Ughamadu, traced the origin of the phantom compensation claim to a traditional
ruler, regarded as claimant to the Alesa-Eleme traditional stool.
NNPC said
there was no such meeting during which any approval or promises were made,
noting that the ‘apparently fabricated’ story was designed to cause disharmony
between the NNPC and the Alesa-Eleme Community.
The
corporation stressed that through the years, the Port Harcourt Refinery had
enjoyed cordial relationship with all the 10 communities in Eleme where the
refinery is located, including Alesa-Eleme and Alade- Eleme through the Joint
Community Relations committee (JCRC).
NNPC said
the JCRC, which comprises representatives from the various community interest
groups, had been relating with the management of PHRC on a constant basis for
creation and execution of development projects and needs of the communities.
While
thanking the people of Eleme for their love and hospitality through the years,
the NNPC implored the community residents, especially the youths, to
discountenance any such rumour of an imminent N36b compensation, as there was
no such approval or payment to any entity, individuals or community.
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