Delta State Government Set To Wade Into Sealing Of Ebenco Company’s Operations
DELTA State Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Olorogun Vincent Oyibode has identified with Koko indigenes in Warri North Local Government Area who lost their jobs in recent times. It was as a result of the closure of Ebenco Global Link Limited by Tantita Security outfit over unproven allegation of oil theft.
Koko indigenes trooped out enmasse to defend Ebenco, saying that Tantita was only seeking attention. In a protest during which men, women and youths of the community brandished various placards, which portrayed Ebenco as a victim of Tantita’s antics, said Tantita had done its worse to the small Itsekiri community by taking food away from their mouths, while making empty allegations against their host, Ebenco. They wondered how Tantita could be the accuser, judge and jury in its own case. “LET EBENCO BREATHE”, “LET KOKO BREATHE”, the people charged.
Oyibode who was in Koko to see things for himself, felt the pulse of the people, while he listened attentively to the presentations made by Ebenco Global Link Limited, promising to bring all parties together.
The commissioner therefore, appealed to the people to be calm and not to take the law in their hands, stressing that the state government is aware of their pains and the issue would be addressed as soon as possible.
Ebenco Global Resources Limited, before it was sealed by Tantita is licensed to handle waste management for oil and gas companies and boasted of reputable clients within the industry.
Residents of Koko community in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State staged a peaceful protest following the shutdown of Ebenco Global Link Limited by Tantita Security. Koko indigenes kicked against the shutdown of the company and called on the Federal Government and relevant authorities to unseal Ebenco’s facilities, so as to allow them resume operations, lamenting that the shutdown of the company has crippled the economy of the community.
Oyibode, during the visit to Koko and environ, urged the people to maintain peace, assuring that the state government would bring the parties together. Oyibode who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Frank Omoko and senior ministry officials, assured the people that the state government through the Ministry Of Oil and Gas would liaise with all critical stakeholders to fast-track investigation and resolve the issues.
An Ebenco official, Mr. Cosmas Mma said the company manages the wastes of several oil companies in the country. He regretted that people who are not professionals were brought into the industry, declaring that Ebenco as a company has never engaged in crude oil theft as alleged by Tantita Security. A member of the Elders Council of the community, Mr. Edward Daibo said no pipeline passes through the community, so Ebenco could not have engaged in crude oil theft, urging Tantita to look elsewhere. He said the company is well known for waste management business and has contributed to the socio-economic well-being of the country, state and the Koko community.
Ebenco berated Tantita for giving it a bad name, saying that the security personnel only know PMS, AGO and others and that anytime they see crude oil, the next thing they do is to cry foul that oil theft had been committed. The company explained that what was found was slodge oil from wastes generated by oil firms it was working for, saying that depending on the contract with its clients, it could return the crude oil or keep it, maintaining that it had nothing to do with oil theft and that unfortunately, all explanations by Ebenco to Tantita fell on deaf ears, all because non-professionals were brought into the industry.
Ebenco supported by Koko indigenes, appealed to the Federal Government to unseal the company as several waste management contracts awarded to Ebenco are pending, while the indigenes were thrown out of job.
