Women lay siege to Escravos flow station
By Emma Arubi
WARRI—UGBORODO women in Escravos, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, yesterday seized the Otumara-Escravos flow station operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, in Ogidigben, in continuation of their protest against alleged gross marginalisation and under-development of the oil-rich community by the Federal Government.
The women who had earlier seized the Chevron operated Escravos Gas Pipeline project at Madangho, said they will continue to take over vital oil facilities in their land until the government enters into meaningful dialogue with the community.
Ugborodo Community Trust Vice-Chairman, Mr. Isaac Botosan, who spoke to Vanguard on the seizure of the SPDC flow station, said they are currently at Abuja on the invitation of the Minister of the Niger Delta Ministry, Elder Godsday Orubebe, for discussion on some issues affecting the long neglected community, stressing, however, that the action by the women will continue.
Security sources told Vanguard that the protesting Itsekiri women stormed the flow station as early as 8.00 am and vowed that they would not vacate the site until government was ready to address their grievances.
The over $800m project being funded by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and Chevron Joint Venture, was designed to produce additional gas for the operation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN.
The women had seized the site of the contractors penultimate Monday in a renewed protest to draw the attention of the Federal Government and oil companies to the underdevelopment of their community.  The Ugborodo community, which plays host to the these projects is aggrieved that they do not have electricity even though the project was meant to enhance the efficiency of PHCN.
Speaking with Journalists in Warri, Mr Thomas Ereyetomi said the protesting women will not vacate the site until the Federal Government yield to their demands.
According to him, the Federal Government should immediately re-award contract for the shore protection and reclamation of Ode-Ugborodo to Julius Berger, noting that the former contractor abandoned the project.
He also demanded that a step down turbine should be installed at Madangho to supply electricity to Ogidigben, Ajudaibo, Madangho and Ijaghala as well as extension of electricity from Ode-Ugborodo to Costain.
