Ndokwa/Ukwuani Constituency Demands Accountability from Oil Companies Over Chronic Underdevelopment
KWALE/Nigeria: Residents of the Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency are urgently calling for measures to address the chronic underdevelopment of their region, attributing the neglect to the operations of oil companies.
This discussion was Led by Mr. Ossai Udom, a prominent advocate for regional development, the community highlights the lack of meaningful initiatives, particularly in oil-bearing areas.
In a social media post, Udom urged the Ogbeani host community in Utagba Ogbe to take legal action against the owners of a local LPG plant.
“We must lend our voices in full support. We are not acting outside the law but within our fundamental rights to protest injustices,” he stated.
In a recent, the Oduosa of Utagba Ogbe, speaking on Arise TV, criticized the operations of oil companies, particularly Sterling Oil, for disregarding the community’s welfare.
“What you cannot do in other Niger Delta oil-bearing communities, you are doling out to Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency in horrible doses,” he noted.
Udom called for unity among the communities of Ebedei, Umutu, Okpai, Umusadege, and others, emphasizing that an injustice to one is an injustice to all. He condemned the stagnant 9% allocation of oil revenue, which has not increased despite the growing number of oil and gas firms in the region.
“Agip, partners to NNPCL, have been horrible in our domain for such a long time, and heaven knows how they get away with causing such harm to us as a people!” he exclaimed.
The community’s demands include:
- Revisiting the 9% oil revenue allocation by the Delta State and Federal Government.
- Prioritizing the employment of local youths in full-time positions rather than contract staffing.
- Ensuring oil companies pay relevant dues to local governments as internally generated revenue (IGR).
- Housing staff within the host communities instead of accommodating them in hotels, benefiting local landlords.
- Ceasing dealings with select individuals and engaging with communities through transparent leadership.
- Establishing comprehensive population management strategies.
- Building impressive head offices or zonal offices in the community.
- Setting up transparent community relationship offices staffed by qualified indigenes.
- Upholding corporate social responsibility (CSR) as detailed in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports.
- Implementing transparent scholarship schemes verified through community liaison offices.
- Respecting local laws and traditions.
- Stopping the use of military and paramilitary forces to harass residents, with any infractions handled by law enforcement agencies.
“The Indians are making unimaginable profits from this project, and more than seven oil and gas firms are operating in our region.”
“We must force a dialogue for the good of our people, especially the youth and future generations,” Udom emphasized.
He called on political leaders to actively lead and support the people’s demands.
“We must activate a collaborative effort across all oil and gas-bearing communities in Ndokwa/Ukwuani to ensure respectable treatment. Wake up and lend your voices to rectify these injustices in the most legitimate ways!” Udom concluded.
Contributing to the discourse, Mr. Harrison Ogbolu criticized the Oil and Gas Committees that mediate between the oil companies and the Communities, as he stated.
“Ebedei’s situation is very, very pitiful. Our youths who call themselves oil and gas committee leaders are not helping matters,” he asserted.
