By Samuel OYADONGHA

Yenagoa – The people of Nembe Kingdom in the Bayelsa East senatorial district have threatened to disrupt the Anglo-Dutch oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) operations over what they described as the refusal of the company to provide their community electricity.

The Nembe Kingdom through its Oil and Gas Committee chairman, Chief Nengi James-Eriworio yesterday called on the oil giant to fast track the ongoing power project in the area with a view to connecting the coastal island to the Nembe Creek turbine on or before March, 2012 or risk the shutting down of its operations in the area.

Lamenting the plight of his people he said, “ It is appalling that the Nembe Kingdom which contributes over 90,000 barrels of crude oil per day to the Nigerian state and boasts of hundreds of oil wells and four flow stations operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has continued to live in perpetual darkness.

“The people of Nembe kingdom will no longer continue to die in silence and be patient over the deliberate denial of power supply by SPDC to its host community particularly the Nembe City in spite of the fact that the oil multinational has carried out oil exploration for decades with little or no significant contribution to the lives and well being of our people.

“It is instructive to note that the power generating plant powering the community has not only broken down but can no longer be maintained because of the increase in the electricity consumption demand occasioned by the ever growing population of the community.”

He warned that if nothing was done to power the Nembe Kingdom, “we would be compelled to mobilize our women, children and men on a peaceful protest to occupy all SPDC operational areas in the kingdom and force SPDC to suspend its oil exploration activities forthwith.”

Describing as unacceptable the current casual employment offered their youths the community called for the employment of their people into top management positions as well as providing them on-the-job training opportunities.
“As a peace loving people, we implore SPDC not to strain the harmonious relationship currently enjoyed by the company by taking our demands for granted,” the community warned