Nigerian oil workers accuse Dutchford E&P, contractors of military assault

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has strongly condemned the alleged use of military personnel and security operatives by Dutchford E&P, Selective Marine Services, and its labor contractors to assault oil and gas workers at the Oritsetimeyin Oil and Gas Rig.

In a statement signed on Friday by Festus Osifo, PENGASSAN’s president, and Lumumba Okugbawa, general secretary, the union described the act as “excessive and brutal” and a violation of the Nigerian Constitution and extant laws governing the oil and gas sector.

“This act negates the tenets of the Nigerian Constitution and all extant laws governing the operations in the nation’s oil and gas sector,” PENGASSAN stated, emphasizing that the companies have a history of breaching agreements with stakeholders, including the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). The breaches concern overdue payments and entitlements owed to workers since 2022.

PENGASSAN warned that any further violence against oil and gas workers would be met with strong resistance. “We will deploy every arsenal at our disposal to frustrate such moves,” the union declared.

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“This unconscionable act represents a grave violation of human rights and known labor conventions. The use of military actions against unarmed workers is completely unjustifiable and disproportionate.”

The union demanded a thorough investigation into the incident, calling for the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible.

PENGASSAN emphasized that perpetrators must be held accountable under both national and international law. “Furthermore, we demand a guarantee of the safety and security of all oil and gas workers on the Rigs,” the association added.

Dutchford E&P describes itself as an oil and gas exploration and production company applying innovative methods to enhance production. Selective Marine Services, established in 1995, operates in the oil and gas and shipping industries, with offices in multiple countries, including Nigeria. Neither company has publicly responded to PENGASSAN’s allegations.

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