National Wire About Nigerians, Nigerian Business and Other Stories
Information reaching National Wire has it that the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), operators of the Kolo Creek Oil field in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa state has restored electricity supply to the Otuasega, Elebele, Oruma(Yiba-Ama) and Imiringi communities which are its cluster communities in the area.
National Wire reports that the four communities midweek shut down the manifold owned and operated by the multinational over alleged neglect of their communities.
Our correspondent who has earlier monitored the protest reports that also barricaded were the firm’s logistics base in same area and adjoining facilities.
Though the protest was conducted peacefully, the visibly angry members of the communities noted that after exhausting all negotiation avenues to call the firm to order there was no other option, but taking to the streets to demonstrate their anger and frustration due to the formers intentional neglect on the plight of their communities.
Speaking with newsmen during the protest, the Chairman, Action Committee on the Restoration of Power Supply to the Kolo Creek Cluster Communities who also doubles as the Community Development Committee(CDC), Chairman, Elebele community, Mr. Okala Precious, said they were angry over the failure of oil company to restore electricity supply to the area despite several meetings, explaining that the protest was carried out as a last resort to draw attention to their plight, following several talks.
He said: “We’re a peace loving people and in as much as we want our country, state and local government to survive, we’ll always give peace a chance. Why we’re out today was due to SPDC’s nonchalant attitude towards our plights after a meeting we had with them under the invitation of the state government in which the company was given a three-day final ultimatum after the expiration of an initial two weeks and several other ultimatums.That last meeting was held on 14th May, 2024.
“What we’re demanding isn’t too much for the SPDC to do for our communities. After all, they cannot compare the amount of resources they extract from our land to the light we’re demanding from them.
“Even the rationing aspect they came up with we’re not seeing. The two generating sets they installed are totally down. All that the four communities are asking is for them to restore power. Let it not be as if Shell base enjoy uninterrupted power supply while our communities are in darkness. The government and the law enforcement agencies are aware that this protest is peaceful.
“The manifold and rig located at Otuasega have been shut down and the major location at Imiringi is also shut down. We know very well that by the time Shell compares and contrasts their loss and what they are supposed to give to us their loss will be much greater. So they should cooperate with us.We’re demanding that a 10 megawatt generating plant or a mini gas turbine that will better serve the Kolo Creek Cluster communities be installed”.
Meanwhile, the Chairman, Community Development Committee(CDC), Otuasega community, Mr Nyamono Sydney Ezuzua has said that since 1973 that the multinational commenced the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in the communities there has not been commensurate human capital and infrastructural development in the area.
Ezuzu noted that the near perennial blackout in the communities upon the breakdown of the recently installed power plant(now maintained) in the area has worsened their living conditions and economic woes.
Earlier Ezuzu said: “SPDC hasn’t done anything tangible thing for the host communities of Otuasega, Elebele, Imiringi and Oruma(Yiba-Ama) since it began operations in this area since 1973.
“They don’t give us jobs, no infrastructure, no water, no good roads. And now they’ve denied us of electricity, the only thing we’re proud of as host communities.
“We’ll protest peacefully until they attend to our plights. We want power restored to our communities. And until that’s done we’ll not stop protesting. That’s because before this protest we met with this company and gave them multiple ultimatums to at least treat us well, but they’re adamant”.
