The 12 communities housing the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd. (SPDC) has jointly called out the government of Nigeria and Bayelsa state, together with the authorities of the SPDC, on the denigrating effects their oil and gas exploration has caused the citizens dwelling in these communities.
In a statement sent to the news room of NAIJA LIVE TV and endorsed by the leadership of these 12 hosting community, the current state of living of these communities has become nothing to write home about, resulting from the exploration of oil going on in the communities.
The statement partly reads:
“Since the commencement of the oil and gas exploration in these host communities, The absence of any of SPDC facility or asset on shore the communities have not only stemmed the attitude of corporate social irresponsibility on the part of SPDC, but have also deprived the communities and the government of Bayelsa State the economic benefits that would have accrued to them from 2006 till date.
Our people cannot bear the brunt of years of oil and gas exploration and exploitation and not benefit from contracts, supplies and services provided for the operations of the said facilities. We are utterly displeased with the disposition of the SPDC in awarding vessel, service and supplies contracts envisaged within the local community content to non-natives and their companies whom we know are members of staff of SPDC or their cronies.
The statement even further lamented the deplorable state of the state of electric power, supplied to these communities:
“Despite the FPSO and FOD drilling facilities in the E.A field with constant power supplies, which ought to be extended to the host communities with little or no effort from SPDC, our communities have constantly remained in total and perpetual darkness. Apart from power, all other basic social amenities that can be done by the SPDC as part of its corporate social responsibility to its host communities is absent and lacking in all of the 12 host communities of the E.A. oil field.”
The statement importantly noted the demands of the demands of these communities, with threats to fight back hard if their conditions are not met in 21 days’ time:
“As a result of these and many more reasons, we the natives of the respective communities hosting the SPDC and its FPSO and FOD facilities at the E.A oil field therefore demand as follows;
A. That all the over 19 contracts and allied services on the Sea Eagle (FPSO) be awarded to the Communities Local Contractors.
B. A review of the GMOU, limiting the interference by members of your staff in determining the pace of the GMOU especially concerning remuneration of contractors upon completion of contracts or milestones.
C. We also call for an upward review of GMOU in respect of the sum one Million Dollar per annum paid to the Communities to the sum of 10 Million Dollar per annum as well as a positive commitment by your company to always make the said payment promptly in order to substantially develop and positively affect the host communities.
D. Immediate payment of the sum of 14 Million Dollar being debt/sum due to the host communities for anchorage of the Sea Eagle rig for the period of 2006 to 2020.
E. 21 days ultimatum to review all of our complaints and come to an acceptable agreement between all parties.”
The statement goes further to lay threats that:
“We have been bearing the brunt, suffering and dying despite several protest letters to SPDC over this unwarranted ill-treatment. It is sequel on this reason that we have as a people unanimously resolved to proceed on a peaceful and non-violent protest to the E.A. oilfield and habit the Sea Eagle and FOD drilling rigs until this matter is resolved and our demand met, upon the expiration of the 21 days’ ultimatum.
We have also resolved to shut down operations and other activities on the Sea Eagle and FOD facilities until our demands are met.
We have further resolved unanimously and are determined to face any step the SPDC or Federal Government of Nigeria will take whether it claims lives and properties or not.”
E.A OIL FIELD: Bayelsa Host Communities Gives SPDC 21 Days Ultimatum to accept agreement or evacuate Premises [VIDEO]
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