According to Fresh Angle International indigenes of Ugborodo, Ugboegungun and Deghele in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, have taken over Shell Petroleum Development Company SPDC, Otumara Flow Station, over perceived refusal of the International Oil and Gas Major, to meet their demand on the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, accusing the company of toeing the path of illegality as far as relevant provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, is concerned.
They vowed yesterday to escalate their protest if SPDC fails to establish mechanism for the recognition of Otumara Host Community Development Trust by today, Friday August 25.
Recall that Indigenes of the aggrieved communities, Thursday stormed the Security House Boat of SPDC Otumara Flow station, with banners bearing various inscriptions, giving Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, 48hours ultimatum, effective Wednesday August 23, to accede to their demand, following the expiration of a 30-day ultimatum earlier handed down to the company.
The angry protesters, watched by security details attached to SPDC as well as the Eghare-Aja of Ugborodo Federated Communities, Eghare-Daniel Uwawah and Mr. Isaac Botosan, among others, brandished banners with inscriptions such as: “On Otumara Host Community Development Trust, OHCDT, we stand” and “We want Petroleum Industrial Act to be given to us as Otumara Host Community Development Trust OHCDT.”
A leader in Ugborodo Community, Mr. Alex Eyengho, who addressed newsmen, Thursday August 24, during the protest at the SPDC facility, stated: “We don’t want to be under any host community, be it Iwere or Warri Kingdom. Shell (SPDC) is toeing the path of illegality.
“Shell has refused to implement the Petroleum Industry Act PIA in their host communities.
“We gave a 30-day ultimatum to Shell, which expired on 21st of August, Shell had refused to comply and take advantage of the 30 days window to implement the PIA.
“If I must tell you, the facility that Shell is operating in Otumara, is the largest in Delta State. If we decide to shut down this facility today, Shell and Nigeria, will be losing 20,000 barrels of crude oil per day, but we have not taken that route and we have been very patient with Shell.
“As it concerns Otumara facility, we are demanding that Shell creates our own Host Community Trust to be named ‘Otumara Host Community Development Trust’, that will be operated by Ugborodo, Ugboegungun and Deghele communities.
“We are the host communities. If there is any form of oil spillage or environmental degradation, it is not going to affect those in Warri South Local Government Area or the others, who are on the upland. It is going to affect primarily Ugborodo and the other communities.”
Other leaders from Ugborodo, Ugboegungun and Deghele communities, Messrs Churchill Omadeli, Oludemi Edema and Anthony Mene Bojoh, in separate interviews, agreed with the position of Mr. Alex Eyengho.
Mr. Churchill Omadeli, who is a member of Ugborodo Council of Elders, called on SPDC to respect its host communities, by coming to dialogue with them, saying failure to do so, will mean continued occupation of the company’s facility.
Whilst the Youth Vice Chairman of Deghele Community, Mr. Anthony Mene Bojoh, said they had a meeting with representatives from Shell on the implementation of PIA, but Shell is trying to cut corners, the National Vice Chairman of Ugboegungun Community, Mr. Olufemi Edema, said: “We are not in support of any other Host Community Development Trust, therefore Shell has only three hours to do the right thing or we will shut down the station.”
