– Two Delta communities in Warri North local government areas have given 21 day day ultimatum to NDDC to revisit abandoned projects or risk civil disturbance
– The communities said the projects were awarded in 2005, making a total of 13 years when the projects have remained abandoned
– They say the only way to guarantee peace is for the NDDC and the oil firms in the area to address their demands appropriately
The people of Tsekelewu and Polobobou communities in Warri North local government area of Delta state have given the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) 21-days ultimatum to kick-start all abandoned projects in their communities or risk civil disturbances and disruption of operation of oil companies in their area.
They also called on Chevron Nigeria Limited to commence the dredging of Tsekelewu and Pelobobou creek for easy accessibility to their communities, stressing that Chevron operations in their area have succeeded in converting their creeks to ordinary land and difficult to enter.
Nsima Ekere, Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission
The 21-days ultimatum is contained in a press statement signed by Comrade Marvis Ofiyai and Asoki Victor, President and Secretary respectively of Tsekelewu and Polobobou communities on behalf of their people and made available to newsmen in Warri on Monday.
It noted that the ultimatum was premised on the fact that NDDC has failed to live up to its responsibilities to their communities with respect to about five major projects initiated in 2005 but abandoned till date, adding that they have nothing to show that they are oil producing communities.
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“Niger Delta Development Commission should use the statutory allocation from oil companies to develop oil producing communities such as tackling the case of Tsekelewu and Polobobou canalization project urgently before it will lead to gross protest that may shock the world.
“The federal and state governments should compel Chevron Nigeria Limited and Niger Delta Development Commission to dredge Tsekelewu and Polobobou creeks for easy accessibility to our communities.
“The only way we can guarantee peace is to address our demands timely. If this dredging issue is not addressed, we promise, we will affect the operation of Chevron Nigeria Limited in our communities.
NDDC MD, Ekere; Governor Okowa and Acting President Yemi Osibanjo
“The canalization of Tsekelewu & Polobobou communities creek was awarded by Niger Delta Development Commission in 2005 but it has been abandoned till date and other four water projects from NDDC were also abandoned. The commission has not impacted Tsekelewu and Polobobou communities positively since inception till date.”
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They also called for sand filling of their communities to avoid being washed away by ocean surge, construction of roads and walkways within the communities, mass assisted transport system, just as they appealed for inclusion of members of the communities in the NDDC skills acquisition programmes as no member of the communities has benefited from the scheme.
Tsekelewu and Polobobou communities are landlords to multinational oil companies such as Chevron Nigeria Limited Opuekeba Platform, NPDC/Elcrest Exploration & Production Nigeria Limited, Opuama Flowstation and Sahara Energy and all fields are contributing to Nigeria’s economy.
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