From Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin
Dubril Oil Company Limited operating in Edo State says it has lost at least 200 barrels of crude per day due to acts of sabotage by youths in Ughoton, one of its host communities over allegations that it failed to discharge its corporate social responsibilities.
The community relations officer of Dubril Oil, Clement Seweje, told journalists in Benin on Monday that the sharp drop in oil production per barrel from 340 to about 140 per day occurred when one of its pipeline at Ughoton in Edo state was ruptured.
This, according to him, resulted in an oil spill on December 28, 2013 along the Udo-Ughoton-Gelegele Road in Ovia North-East local government area before the well was shut.
Seweje, however, informed journalists that the oil spill did not cause any damage as is claimed by the community and that the ruptured pipe has been mended with hopes to resume production as soon as possible.
Denying allegations that the company failed to fulfil it social responsibility to the community, Seweje listed some of the amenities Dubril Oil provided for Ughoton to include electricity, scholarships, a health centre, town-hall, renovation of primary school, empowerment programme for 14 youths and mployment.
He also lamented that although the company pays taxes and rates to the Edo State government and Ovia North-East Council, both authorities have done nothing to resolves the pending issues with the community.
Notwithstanding, the community relations officer said the company is hopeful that it would recover from the set back, even as it plans to raise its crude oil production to 2000 barrels per day by the third quarter of 2014.