By Emma Amaize, Egufe Yafugborhi and Perez Brisibe
WARRI- GBARAMATU Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, host to several multinational oil and gas facilities, have demanded that the Federal Government begins the construction of the Export Processing Zone, EPZ/Gas Revolution Industrial Park, Ogidigben and Gbaramatu Seaport component of the projects.

Gbaramatu Communities Chairmen Forum in an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari signed by Demebi Johnbull (Oporoza) and 10 others, said: “The benefits of these projects are enormous as they can absorb the teeming restive youths and further boost economic activities of the communities, Delta state and the federation.

They commended President Buhari for sending the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Kachikwu, to the kingdom to inspect the site of the Nigerian Maritime University, NMU, Okerenkoko, pleading that the Federal Government “should continue the construction of the university and ensure the commencement of academic activities in the institution within the next academic session.”

The chairmen said the take off campus at Kurutie in Gbaramatu kingdom “has been acquired and developed by the Federal Government to support this exercise.”

Furthermore, they pleaded: “The President should direct the multinational Oil Companies to carry out their Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, adopt environmental best practice, comply with the Local Content Policy of the Federal Government and give employment to people from the host communities, as our people have been shortchanged for too long in the scheme of things.”

They lamented that despite its over 700 oil wells producing about 500,000 barrels per day, “Gbaramatu kingdom is an eyesore in terms of underdevelopment and environmental degradation,” adding: “Gbaramatu kingdom is deliberately deprived and neglected, and we urge you to link us to the national grid.”

The forum also urged the president to “engage the traditional institution of Gbaramatu kingdom on issues concerning peace and development, and also kindly direct the Military High Command to respect our traditional institution by returning the items looted during the recent military invasion of Gbaramatu kingdom.”

“The Niger Delta Avengers and other agitating groups should sheathe their swords to engender the peaceful resolution of the logjam as no development can be achieved in a rancorous environment,” they added.

The chairmen stated: “We affirm that we are ready and willing to cooperate and collaborate with the federal government to bring an enduring solution to the incessant pipelines vandalism an insurgency in the kingdom.”

“We assure you of our unalloyed support to ensure that your administration records sterling achievements, anchored on your administration’s show of sincerity in dealing with the people and adopt participatory governance in which democracy is rooted to give the people a sense of belonging,” they asserted.