By Sunday Apah
The people of Ogbotobo Federated Communities in Ekeremo Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have called on Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to urgently address their demands regarding critical development issues affecting their communities.
In a letter addressed to the Manager of Corporate Relations for Projects and Opportunities at SPDC, the community leaders—Comrade Solomon Akuna, CDC Chairman of Ogbotobo Community; HRH Chidiwei Timipre Roland, Amananawei of Ogbotobo Community; Mr. China Custom, CDC Chairman of Agbaya-Ama Community; and Chief Pereyibo Clark, Ag. Amananawei of Agbaya-Ama Community—emphasized the urgent need for SPDC to address the marginalization of their communities in order to maintain existing peace between the parties.
The letter highlighted several concerns, including the denial of entitlements related to the SPDC Scholarship Scheme, the company’s operations in their environment without a Flow Through Order (FTO), issues surrounding the Community Electrification Project, the abandonment of the Shore Protection Project, and unmet financial obligations from the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) and the Top-up Fund for the two expiring rigs in 2022-2023.
According to the letter, “The leadership of Ogbotobo Federated Communities (Ogbotobo, Agbaya-Ama, Tonton-Ama, and Tonor) wishes to draw the attention of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Nigeria Limited to its marginalization and exploitation of our communities, urging that bold steps be taken to address the issues outlined in a timely manner.”
The letter further stated, “Our parents and guardians face significant difficulties in securing scholarships from SPDC. Therefore, we urge SPDC to change their policies to allow all selected individuals in our communities to benefit unconditionally from the scholarship program.”
The community leaders made it clear that if any of SPDC’s contractors fail to comply with requirements, they would halt operations until a resolution is reached. “If any of your vendors are found wanting, regardless of their urgency, we will put a stop to their operations without an FTO, with costs incurred during this process to be represented later,” they warned.
The letter also called for improved coordination on community development projects. “It is frustrating when community development projects lack coordination. We urge SPDC to prompt the contractor in charge of the electrification project to expedite the lighting of our communities, or we may be compelled to act.”
Regarding the Shore Protection Project, the community leaders requested that SPDC consider the project, which was meant to be completed between 2000 and 2001, if the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with SPDC remains valid.
Additionally, they recalled a mutual agreement made in August 2019, where a yearly mandate of ₦150,000,000.00 was established with SPDC representatives in the presence of state government officials. “We expect SPDC to uphold our cordial relationship,” they insisted.
The communities are also expecting a Top-up Fund from two drilling rigs that operated from August 2022 to June 2023. “We believe that the projects undertaken exceed the GMoU-specified amounts that qualify for the Top-up Fund, and we urge SPDC to act promptly on this matter.”
In conclusion, the letter emphasized the importance of maintaining the peaceful coexistence established since 1979. “You cannot beat a child and tell him not to cry. Enough of this marginalization. We stand united as indigenous communities in the Niger Delta region. We seek recognition from SPDC, not continued exploitation and marginalization of the host communities.”
