Niger Delta
Alleged Neglect: SPDC Finally Bows To Pressure …Restores Power To Cluster Communities Amidst Protest
Few days after heated protest over alleged neglect by community members of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Nigeria operated cluster communities of Kolo Creek Oil field in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, the oil firm has restored electricity supply to the four communities of Otuasega, Elebele, Oruma (Yiba-Ama), and Imiringi.
It would be recalled that the four communities, midweek shut down the manifold owned and operated by the multinational company over alleged neglect of their communities.
The Tide further reports that earlier during the protest, the firm’s logistics base in the same area and adjoining facilities were also barricaded by the protesting youths, midweek.
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 what they believed to be the company’s 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 the 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.
“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 enjoys 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”, he said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman, CDC, Otuasega Community, Mr Nyamono Sydney Ezuzua, said that since 1973 the multinational company commenced 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 has not done anything tangible for the host communities of Otuasega, Elebele, Imiringi and Oruma (Yiba-Ama) since it began operations in this area in 1973.
“They don’t give us jobs, no infrastructure, no water, no good roads. And now they’ve denied us 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”.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa
The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaete Obot, has called for regular release of funds to the judiciary to ensure effective dispensation of justice.
Obot made the call recently while speaking at the opening of the 2024/2025 legal year in Uyo.
The Chief Judge said the judiciary in Akwa Ibom State had been grappling with debts arising from non-release of funds in 2023.
She said the judiciary required adequate funding to perform optimally, saying, “we need funds to maintain our facilities across the hierarchy of courts in the state”.
Obot further stated that the state judiciary was hugely under-staffed, and required more manpower.
“The last recruitment into the state judiciary was done in 2012. There is need to address the issue of shortage of staff in the system.
“Shortage of staff has made us to assign only one staff to cover duty schedules that are meant for two or three persons.
“Within the last two years, no fewer than 316 staff have retired from the state judiciary without replacement.
“When retirement goes on for many years without regular replacement, many skills and competences will be lost”, she said.
The Chief Judge decried the absence of basic educational facilities in correctional centres in state.
She suggested the establishment of adult education facilities within the correctional centres to support the education needs of inmates.
“Inmates require basic primary, secondary education and skills acquisition facilities to earn the needed reform”, she said.
In his remarks, the State Governoe, Umo Eno, assured the judiciary of the state government’s support and cooperation to enhance effective dispensation of justice.
Eno commended the Chief Judge and the judiciary in the state for their steadfastness and commitment to justice delivery.
The Tide’s source reports that a special court session was held during the event to signal the commencement of new legal year.
Delta State Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze, has said the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, was determined to deliver quality road projects to all Deltans across the State.
The Commissioner, who spoke recently during an inspection of projects in Warri South and Uvwie Local Government Areas of the state, said Governor Oborevwori was desirous to ensure that Deltans get value for every money spent on projects in the state.
The projects inspected include Central Hospital Road, Warri; Edo Guest House Road, Ekpan; Ogbetuo Avenue, Effurun; Rehabilitation and construction of Bright Hope Street with spurs to Okiemute Street, and Senator James Manager Street, Off Airport Road, Effurun, and Uti Road, Effurun.
Izeze, who paid unscheduled visits to the various project sites, expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done thus far by the various contractors, assuring that Governor Oborevwori’s promise to revamp Warri and environs was becoming a reality.
“I am very satisfied with the work being done at the places we have visited so far. As you can see, the visits were not scheduled, the contractors were not expecting us because I did not call any of them.
“We decided to take them unawares in the hope that probably some of them may have decided to go on vacation. Right from the Central Hospital where the drains are being extended to discharge water into the natural waterways for the road to be reasphalted.
“We are satisfied that the contractor was on site and working according to specifications as provided for in the Bills of Engineering Measurement (BEME).
“So also the contractor handling Ogbetuo Avenue, Effurun, when we got there even though they were not physically on site, we noticed that they have done the binder course waiting for the finishing course to be applied and I can certify that the quality of work done are good enough”, he said.
At Bright Hope Street with spurs to Okiemute Street and James Manager Street, the Commissioner said he visited to see the level and quality of work that has been done, especially considering the fact that the contractor was raising his final certificate.
“For me as a matter of principle and following the Governor’s directive, any job that requires certification, will need my physical presence to inspect and ensure that government is getting value for money spent.
“As Governor Oborevwori has promised Deltans, he intends to extract value for every money spent on every job that is done and he insists on quality supervision.
“As you all know, supervision and management is key to most of our projects because contractors are capitalists, if you leave them they will want to make the highest profit as possible. So we go back and certify that the job is satisfactory”, he noted.
At Uti Road, Effurun, the Commissioner, who met the contractor excavating the ground and sand filling with white sharp sand as provided in the BEME, took measurements of the depth and expressed satisfaction with the contractor for following specifications.
“As you can see, the contractor is on site and doing the job according to specification and we do hope that they speed up their pace so that as soon as the rains abate, they can get the road ready for inauguration.
“We are optimistic of its completion soonest so that all the residents and adjoining streets that this strategic road feeds will heave a sigh of relief.
“They will also appreciate the fact that Governor Oborevwori’s promise to give Warri and environs a facelift is now coming to reality right before their very eyes”.
On Edo Guest House Road, Ekpan, Izeze said, “the job has been completed and you can see the quality of work that has been done, the job has been completed.
“I am very elated that the residents are happy with the completion. All through the period we visited on inspection, the residents had always asked us to convey their appreciation to Governor Oborevwori because they had thought the road would never be completed.
“You can see how elated they were and that is the essence of governance. When you are able to put smile on the face of someone who does not need to have access to you to have development brought to their door step.
“I felt very fulfilled because the essence of governance is public service and when you service the public and they appreciate it, its quite exciting”.
By: Albert Ograka, Asaba
Bayelsa State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on security operatives to investigate the state’s Commissioner for Power, Engr. Komuku Kharim over alleged terror attacks at the party’s secretariat in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Briefing newsmen shortly after a closed door meeting of the party’s State Executive Council, Chairman of the party, Barr. Dennis Otiotio, alleged that as a fallout of the recent suspension of some erring members of the party by their Wards and Local Government Areas, thugs believed to be loyal to the Commissioner launched mayhem and unwarranted attacks at the party’s State Secretariat.
Otiotio faulted the Commissioner, describing it as “political rascality taken too far”.
The Tide learnt that the Bayelsa State chapter of the APC recently suspended 10 of its members, including the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, over alleged anti-party activities.
Leadership of the party, which also bared its mind on the membership status of the suspended Minister and others, noted that the State Working Committee (SWC) was planning a possible review or ratification of the suspension within timelines, saying as party faithful, it was expedient that all members work together for the progress and unity of the party in accordance with the renewed hope mantra of President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We call on the Nigerian Police and other security formations to institute an investigation on the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Power, Engr. Komuku Kharim, and call him and his thugs to order.
“This morning, Monday 14th October, 2024, thugs and other hoodlums believed to be loyal to him stormed the APC State Secretariat in their numbers with the intent to maim party faithful and cause unwarranted destruction.
“The recent suspension of some erring members of the party, including the Honourable Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (oil), and others wasn’t carried out by the party’s State Executive Council, but by the wards and LGAs chapters of the suspended members.
“As a party, we’ve conducted ourselves within the ambits of the law. The APC is a party that believes in the rule of law and order. It’s on record that the said Commissioner until his recent appointment by the Governor Douye Diri’s administration has been allegedly enmeshed in several anti-party activities.’’
“Rather than direct his grievances to the appropriate party authorities and other available dispute resolution mechanisms within the party, Engr. Komuku instead chose to unleash mayhem on the party’s secretariat and members”, the APC said.
In the same vein, the lawmaker representing Southern-Ijaw constituency 4 in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Victor-Ben Selekaye, has charge the party’s faithfuls and the general public to discountenance rumours that the present State Working Committee of the party has been sacked by the court.
He said it became necessary to correct the erroneous believe as, according to him, that matter has been resolved by organs of the party at all levels, noting that the party was looking forward to an expanded state working committee meeting were all stakeholders will be in attendance to resolve all perceived grievances and other pending issues.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa