The Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Environment, Oil and Gas has asked the management of Sterling Oil and Energy Company Limited, to appear before it on Thursday, September 26, 2021.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon Ekpotuayerin Pullah at an earlier scheduled meeting between members and stakeholders over petitions against the company by some aggrieved host communities, expressed sadness at the attitude of the management towards constituted authorities.
The lawmaker said the meeting was at the instance of petitions by some aggrieved communities over the unwholesome activities of Sterling Oil and Energy Company Limited, bothering largely on oil spillage and indiscriminate dumping of toxic wastes in their localities.
Irked by what he described as flagrant disrespect on earlier invitations to appear before the Committee by the management of the company, Hon Pullah said there was the need for another invitation to the management to appear before it on Thursday, August 26, 2021.
He said failure to appear before the Committee, the company risk the sealing of its premises, saying that as representatives of the people the State Assembly can not afford to allow a firm to continue activities that endangers the lives of the people.
Hon Pullah further expressed displeasure that a meeting with relevant stakeholders, including officials of the State Ministries of Justice, Oil and Gas and Environment, the management of Sterling Oil and Energy Company Limited, sent representatives that can not take decision on behalf of the company.
Other members of the Committee, including Hon Anthony Elekeokwuri, Pat Ajudua, Ferguson Onwo and Felix Anira, recalled when they visited the company in April to investigate issues raised in the petitions and were not allowed access by the management.
The Lawmakers who were saddened by the development noted that the Committee requires the attention of top management staff of the company to explain some certain issues.
Representatives of ministry of Justice, Environment, Oil and Gas as well as the Task Force on Environmental Sanitation, also narrated efforts made to get the company clean up some mess in the host communities but to no avail.
They faulted the company’s claim that there was no spillage stressing that even at the moment, there is still ongoing spill of oil in the localities.
The three Staff of the Company who were in attendance at the meeting had denied the allegations of oil spill and indiscriminate dumping of toxic wastes against the testimonies of various stakeholders at the meeting.
