The head of Warri Regional office of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, Mr Benjamin Ogunnubi has appealed to Protesting Itsekiri Indigenes to be calm as the commission will act inline with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act ,PIA.
Mr Ogunnubi was speaking in reaction to on Monday Protest by hundreds of Itsekiri people over their demand that NUPRC should
not temper with the PIA board as constituted by the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III
The head of NUPRC
Warri Regional office who was represented by a Senior Manager ,Mr Dennis Eyitemi told the protesters that their demands were noted and assured them that the commission would speedily look into them.
He added that the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA was meant for the development of the oil producing communities, stressing that the commission would handle their
request in line with the provision of the PIA.
Earlier during a peaceful protest the people of Itsekiri Nation called on the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission to deal only with members of the board set up by the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse the third.
Speaking to newsmen, the spokesperson of the protesters, Mr Joseph Tenumah, said they were at the premises of the NUPRC to call on them not to temper with the PIA board as constituted by the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse the third.
He stressed that any act of tempering with the PIA board would amount to infringement of their rights which can lead to a bridge of peace in the area.
Mr Tenumah said the Itsekiri Nation has unanimously endorsed and accepted the PIA board constituted by the Olu of Warri, adding that it will no doubt usher rapid development to the various Itsekiri communities.
Others who spoke, including the national president of the National Association of Itsekiri Students Worldwide, Famous Uwagbajumi, said they are aware that a group of Itsekiris has been short-changing the Itsekiri communities through the PIA, and have decided to put an end to it.
They explained that Itsekiri communities have suffered under-development due to the act of the individuals, adding that the action of the Olu of Warri in constituting the PIA board will no doubt bring development to the communities.
It would be recalled that Indigenes of Ugborodo, Deghele and Ugboegungun communities in Warri South – West Local Government Area of Delta State, have suspended the 2nd phase of their protest at Otumara flow station, operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC.
The Protest was suspended due to the intervention of the Federal Government through its agency, Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission NUPRC led by the Chief Executive, Engr. Komolafe Gbenga
Actual news Correspondent had earlier reported that the protesters had vowed to completely shutdown the 20,000 barrels per day SPDC Facility in Otumara flow station.
The Indigenes of oil rich communities of Ugborodo, Deghele and Ugboegungun had accused SPDC of contravening relevant provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA and vowed to escalate the protest before the intervention of the Chief Executive of Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission NUPRC , Mr Gbenga Komolafe .
