4 IMO OIL COMMUNITIES PROTEST NEGLECT BY SHELL PETROLEUMo
REPORTER: CHINAZO ILECHUKWU
The people of four oil bearing communities of Assa, Obile, Ochia and Awarra in Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State have taken to the streets to protest against alleged neglect by an oil giant company, Shell Petroleum, operating in the area.
Addressing journalists in Owerri, Spokesperson for Assa North cluster, an umbrella body of the communities, Mr. Duke-Bright Enyia, expressed regret that despite decades of oil exploitation in the area by the company, the people still lacked electricity, access road, portable water and health care facilities.
The protesters made up of men, women and youths lamented lack of basic amenities and non engagement of indigenes of the host communities as staff of the oil facility, which has operated in the area for more than six decades.
The people occupied the premises of the Imo State Oil Producing and Development Commission (ISOPADEC) and later proceeded to the state secretariat Owerri to get the attention of the State Ministry of Petroleum.
Spokesperson for the group, Mr. Duke-Bright Enyia, called on the company to urgently recognize the community development board constituted by the state government for the purposes of interfacing with the company on matters relating to their welfare.
He appealed to the state government to prevail on the company to halt further diversion of empowerment programmes meant for the communities to other states, award scholarships to the youths and return local content jobs to the people of Asaa North Cluster to guarantee peace in the area.
Septuagenarians, Mr. Joseph Ogbuji and Mrs. Mercy Onyiriuka, lamented environmental pollution from the oil company, adding that lack of access roads hindered them from taking their farm produce to markets in the state capital.
The Imo State Commissioner for Petroleum, Chief Goodluck Opiah, commended the protesters for their peaceful disposition.
He however noted that the government was engaging with the company to ensure they lived up to their social responsibilities.
Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area is rich in oil and gas but has suffered neglect by successive administrations in the state and other development agencies.