The protesting women tied red cloth to block the
entrance to the oil platform located within the community. They further alleged
that Shell had failed to redeem the two-year-old promise to replace a faulty
community generator, renovate existing community school and provide potable
water for its host community. Some of the women carried placards with various
inscriptions such as “Shell: Give us Light”, “Implement MoU or go”, “We need
water, Light, School for our children” among others. The protesters claimed
that the oil firm had adopted delay tactics to avoid providing the amenities
which they said were time-bound. Reacting to the development, the spokesman for
Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, Precious Okolobo, urged the
aggrieved women to adopt the spelt-out channel of addressing their grievances.“
The SPDC has continued to work with the Peremabiri
community on the implementation of the MoU in their area. The MoU model has
provision for addressing grievances.”On the broken down generator at Peremabiri,
Okolobo said SPDC procured a new set that is being transported to the area for
installation and commissioning. He said the set was twice the capacity of the
bad one, and would be commissioned as soon as possible. “The Bayelsa State
Government and MoU Cluster Development Board are aware of the situation and are
engaging the Community Development Committee,” Okolobo said.Nigeria is one of
the world’s major oil producers, but the oil- producing Niger Delta region
remains one of the country’s poorest and least developed regions.
You cannot blame these women, they are asking for simple things the government should put in place.
ReplyDeleteIn my place for the breast of an old woman to stare at anyone is a curse.
ReplyDeleteThese people should fear God
ReplyDelete