Hundreds of Itsekiri indigenes on Monday morning shut down warri Regional head office of Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission NUPRC over alleged manipulation of the Name of the host community development trust HCDT and the composition of the board of trustees of the HCDT.
The protesters who blocked the main entrance of the NUPRC office disclosed that some persons in Ugborodo, Deghele and Ugboegungun communities all in Warri South – West Local Government Area of Delta State wants to dictate the name of the trust and composition of the trustees .
The protesters including chief mercy Olowu, Mr Clement Carpe Mr Joseph Tenuma amongst others said the itsekiris are one and have one king ,Ogiame Atuwatse III the Olu of Warri , adding that the Olu of Warri decision on the name of the trust and trustees is what they stand for .
The protesters added that only few persons in the kingdom have been benefitting from the funds acured to the kingdom from the oil companies operating in Iwere land , “I am from ugborodo my name is Fred , we are tired of few persons benefitting from the oil in our land , if you go to our communities especially Ugborodo there is no electricity supply no potable water I’m from the community , he said
At the time of filling this report,the head of Warri Regional office,Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission NUPRC Mr Benjamin Olusegun Ogunnubi was not available to comment on the issue .
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 .
In a related development Some Itsekiri Leaders on Saturday threatened to shutdown all oil flow stations operating in various Itsekiri communities if the Petroleum Industrial Act is not implemented soon.
This was made known to newsmen after a meeting of Chiefs in warri kingdom along with some sons and daughters of Iwere nation, held at Atuwatse the second model primary school field, warri south local government area.
The Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Oma Eyewuoma said it’s shocking to see that the PIA which has been signed into law is not being implemented in Itsekiri communities playing host to oil flow stations.
He stressed that the in-justice faced by most Itsekiri host communities made them to resolved that if the PIA act is not implemented they will have no other option but to shutdown all flow stations being hosted by Itsekiri communities.
The Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Oma Eyewuoma, also informed that they have resolved to support the committee set up by the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse the third, towards ensuring that the PIA act is duly implemented
Details later…
