…Urges Tinubu to declare emergency for  development of communities

By Jimitota Onoyume

Itsekiri ethnic nationality of Warri kingdom has enjoined President Bola Tinubu to declare an emergency across Itsekiri communities so as to urgently address issues of underdevelopment in the kingdom.

Representative of the Olu of Warri palace/Liaison to NNPCL, Mr Collins Edema flanked by others at a world press conference yesterday in Warri, Delta state said President Tinubu in his capacity also as the Minister of Petroleum Resources should deplore resources to construct shoreline protections to protect  the  communities from  flash floods.

“We wish to call on the President and the Commander in Chief President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who doubles as the Minister of Petroleum Resources to declare a state of emergency in Itsekiri oil-producing communities like Ugborodo, Orere, Ogheye Elekporo whose lands have been swept under the ocean due to recurrent sea surge”.

Continuing, they alleged gross marginalization of Itsekiri sons and daughters in areas of employment by oil companies operating in the region, stressing that Itsekiri communities generate approximately 33 percent of Nigeria’s crude oil and gas production quantum.

“It is sad that for 61 years of oil exploration on our soil, the only thing we have to show for it is environmental degradation from gas flaring associated with oil drilling, polluted water and aquatic life, washing off our shoreline into the ocean, lack of basic social amenities like portable drinking water, healthcare and so on.

” From 2006-2008 NNPC recruited but no Itsekiri was considered, in 2011-2012 it recruited over 132 senior officers with no Itsekiri considered, in 2019, 2020 the NNPC now NNPCL recruited 1,050 graduate trainees also the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA did, no Itsekiri was considered in all.”

The Itsekiri nation also urged the President to issue an executive order to NNPCL and other JV partners to specifically set aside 60 percent job slots for natives of Itsekiri communities for any job going on in their areas, adding they also enjoined the President to order oil giant Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, to relocate its headquarters to Warri or Excravos.

“We wish to call on the President and Commander in Chief President  Bola Ahmed Tinubu who doubles as the Minister of Petroleum resources to order the immediate relocation of the operational headquarters of  Chevron Nigeria limited, CNL, to Warri or Excravos. This will help to boost host community confidence in the operations of CNL and deepen peaceful existence between the company and her host communities.”

They also appealed for a review of the alleged marginalization of Itsekiri on issues relating to contract awards for projects by oil companies operating in Itsekiri communities, adding that companies owned by Itsekiri sons and daughters should also be considered in the allocation of Oil Mining Licenses.

“Over the years in the allocation of Oil Mining licenses, no Itsekiri-owned companies have been considered”, they lamented