Women protest alleged marginalization by oil firm

From Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

Hundreds of women in Oleh community in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State on Wednesday protested alleged marginalization by an oil firm operating in the area.
The protesting women who took to various streets in the community in the early hours of yesterday, claimed their protest was informed by marginalization by Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited Oleh – Olomoro Field/ Flow station Clusters 5 OML30 over their neglect.
The women therefore called for the award of pumps rental services contract to the people of Oleh Kingdom
Though the protest was peaceful, but the protesters were said to have displayed placards with inscription” Heritage give urgent attention in awarding pumps renting contract to Oleh indigenous contractors, Oleh community needs the pump contract, the flow station carried 3,5, 8 and 9 give us two pumps and Heritage award the pump rent contract to Oleh people were resisted by the company’s security operatives at Oleh Olomoro flow station.”
Presenting their demands through the Chairman of Oleh Community Development Committee,( OCDC) Chief Obaro Ekokobe, the women stated that recent information on the award of Pumps Rental Services Contract revealed that Oleh people had been marginalized from benefitting and demand immediate award of the said pumps rental contracts from Oleh Kingdom to Heritage Oil firm was tendered since 12th November 2019.
The protesters however, called on the management of Heritage Oil firm to recognize the people of Oleh community in the award of the pumps contract and give two to Oleh and two to Olomoro community, adding that if Heritage was contracting two pumps both communities should have one each.
But in a swift reaction, officials of Heritage Oil firm who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity, described the protest as frivolous saying that the protesters were out to tarnish their reputation as all their allegations were not true.