An Oil Company setting up operations in Owerri West Imo West Nigeria, Iheoma Marginal Field Oil Company has formally paid a working visit to the host community at the palace of the Traditional Ruler of Umudibia Autonomous community, HRH Eze Godwin Onyewuchi Merenini Dibia 1.
The visit took place at his Traditional Palace in Umuokomoche Umudibia wherein matters of interest for the well-being and development of umudibia were discussed in the presence of Umudibia community leaders, stakeholders alongside the company’s team as captured by 9News Nigeria Owerri.
At the palace of the monarch Eze Merenini, the team leader of the delegation who actually introduced himself as a professor that works with NUPRC hinted that the real essence of the company’s visit to Umudibia Autonomous community is to inform the community on the specifications with which the oil company operates, tests and analysis, benefits of the community and social responsibilities attached to host community in partnership with the oil company.
Reports has it that the Traditional Ruler Eze Godwin Merinini has been publicly and privately accused of having sold out the community to the IHEOMA MARGINAL FIELD OIL COMPANY ( Nde oil company), but the visit of the company to host community aborted all the allegations.
Ihuoma Oil Company team stated that the company has not done anything to umudibia host community and no compensation was made to the land owners as speculated.
Community stakeholders present at the meeting administered questions to the company to reassure them of umudibia needs assessment (SIA) which was well addressed and taken.
Another critical clear test was the joint inspection of the oil rig site by umudibia stakeholders who proceeded alongside the oil company visiting team from the palace.
At the site of operation, which is the rig location umudibia people watched as the team carried out tests for air quality test , soil test, and water quality test respectively. The joint inspection test was a successful one haven the stakeholders as witness.
Eze merinini welcomed the oil team and approved the community stakeholders to immediately join for further inspection. He charged the company to bring back reliable assessment and tests reports back to the palace for proper documentation to benefit his community.
Umudibia people’s voices were heard at the visit from both sides, questions were well attended to amid humongous expectations by the generality of umudibia people.
The company management at the visit also took time to explain and highlight their core values and disaster management procedure that will benefit host community. However their enlightenment led to filling of assessment questionnaire forms brought by the company and submitted on the spot.
Some leaders interviewed by our correspondent confirmed the visitation, stating that the representatives of IHEOMA MARGINAL FIELD OIL COMPANY fondly called ”nde oil company” by average umudibia man came visiting the community formally the first time since it’s advertorials were brought to the community.
His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodinma CON was highly applauded by both Ihuoma Oil Company and Umudibia Autonomous Community as the Chief promoter of this oil project aimed at creating employment and developing the state.
Umudibia leadership comprising of the palace council, community heads, President general, Youth leaders, women group and some notable government functionaries in the area were in attendance at the visit on Thursday 7th May, 2026, as captured by 9News Nigeria.
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