Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) has denied engaging in any act of threat to life by its operations and activities in Aggah Community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Rivers State.
Recall that an environmentalist, Nicholas Evaristus, last week, petitioned the Italian government over alleged threats to life as a result of activities of NAOC in the area.
Evaristus, in his petition, filed through the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, claimed that Agip oversees over 10 oil wells in Mgbede Oilfield without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which blocked water channels in his community from the natural watercourse, resulting in all-year flooding in the area.
But in a statement made available to The Guardian, yesterday, NAOC said its operational activities do not pose any threat to life in its host community.
The statement said: “NOAC prohibits and undertakes to prevent any form of retaliation and does not tolerate threats, or participate in intimidation, or attacks in any form, including interested parties in relation to its operations.”
The Italian oil giant noted it has always complied with these principles, and, therefore, denied having threatened the petitioner or anyone.
Eni/NAOC also confirmed completing works, which are agreed with it through mediation of the conciliator appointed by the National Contact Point (NCP) for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines.
NAOC statement added: “These works consist of drainage channels (culvert) under the road for outflow of water from one side to the other.
“The completeness and effectiveness of the completed works have been certified by a third-party consultant (Chattel Associated Nigeria Ltd), which has recommended some minimal additional improvement actions with respect to the work carried out, and which will be implemented shortly.
“Eni participates, in good faith, in judicial or extra-judicial procedures that underlie mechanisms applicable in relations with each stakeholder. This was the case for the proceeding at the NCP in question. Eni, despite having sufficiently demonstrated that activities of the subsidiary, NAOC, do not have aggravating impact on flooding of the area, which is regularly subject to natural flooding, like the entire Niger Delta region.”
