The Oil firms’ host communities of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, ONELGA, have issued a one month warning to both the state and federal governments to commence developmental project in their areas, or face their rout.
This was made known in Omoku, ONELGA, Rivers State, during the host communities’ stakeholders meeting, comprising the traditional rulers, communities development committees, youths and women’s wing.
The Chairman Engr. Nelson I Ekperi regretted that, it was disheartening to observe what it described as the marginalization and neglect of the zone, stating that the zone has suffered enough from the two strata of governments and operating oil companies in their Local Government.
Among other things, they demanded that the government should collaborate with its relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies MDAs, of works, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Nigeria National Petroleum Cooperation, NNPC and the all the oil companies in the zone, to start development programmes within the specified time limit.
Again, they demanded that National Agip Oil Company (NAOC) should site it’s propose refinery in their zone, the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas NLNG, Greenville OIL and Gas Ltd. and Indorama to enter into Memorandum of Understanding MOU with the zone to developed it.
The forum also demanded the immediate development of major road networks in the area, including Ahoada-Omoku-Ebocha-Egbema Road with street Light. And such road must be constructed by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC only.
The group without mincing words insisted that all oil companies during businesses in the zone should relocate their head quarters to the zone, while berating the non implementation by the oil companies of the Federal Government local content policy by way of employment and the contract awards.
They demanded from the Federal Government via the Ministry of Niger Delta to address the environmental pollution they were being subjected to, occasioned oil exploration.
Expressing their anger, they noted that whereas ONELGA produced 56.6 percent of gas feed tuck to the NLNG in Bonny, ONELGA has not benefited from the Federal Government apart from the Federal Government College Omoku that is declared as the worst Federal College of Education in Nigeria in terms of infrastructural projects.
Lending his voice the Caretaker Committee CTC Chairman, Chief Austin Azu Amugo, affirmed the views of his people, saying that his people had suffered a lot and would not relent, until they achieve their goals.
“We have suffered a lot. Why is it that, when other people make requests from the government they get them, but when we do, we don’t?
They noted that job creation for the youths and contract awards to indigenous contractors, would boost the economy of the area and sustain peace and development.
