By Karen James
The Anambra State House of Assembly has expressed deep dissatisfaction with Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company (SEEPCO) for failing to employ a single indigene of Anambra State, despite the company’s multi-million-dollar oil exploration activities in the region. The concern was raised during a session led by the House Committee on Petroleum and Mineral Resources, chaired by Honourable Chidiebele Ibemeka, who criticized the company’s neglect of the local workforce.
Honourable Ibemeka emphasized that SEEPCO, which has been operating in Anambra since 2006 and began active oil exploration in Ogwuaniocha and Oguikpele communities in the Ogbaru Council Area in 2018, has not made any tangible employment efforts toward the state’s indigenes. During the interrogation, the company was asked to present documentation on local hires, but no names from Anambra were included in the records.
“We are extremely disappointed that despite benefiting from the resources of our land, SEEPCO has not deemed it fit to provide employment opportunities to our people. This is unacceptable,” Ibemeka stated, reiterating that the company’s actions contradict the Petroleum Industry Act, which mandates corporate social responsibility to host communities.
Beyond the employment concerns, Honourable Ibemeka also raised alarms over environmental damage caused by SEEPCO’s operations. Frequent oil spills and gas flaring have severely impacted the livelihood and health of communities in the Ogbaru area, contributing to long-term environmental degradation.
The lawmaker vowed that the Assembly would intensify its oversight on the company, stressing that SEEPCO must be held accountable for its failures in both employment and environmental protection. “As representatives of Ndi Anambra, we have a duty to ensure that the rights and entitlements of our people are respected. We will not rest until SEEPCO addresses these critical issues and makes amends to the communities they have wronged,” Ibemeka asserted.
The Anambra State House of Assembly continues to push for greater accountability from SEEPCO, ensuring that the company fulfills its obligations and implements sustainable practices that benefit the people of Anambra.
