The Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change, NDIMRC, has threatened protest against the smooth operations of the newly completed Escravos-Warri-Lagos Gas Pipeline over alleged failure of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to meet the demands of the Gbaramatu and Ugborodo people.
The group in a press statement, signed by its President, Nelly Emma, Secretary, John Sailor and Public Relations Officer, Mukoro Stanley, also vowed to stage protest to NNPC facilities in the region, the Escravos Tank Farm, the Abiteye Flow station as well as disrupt both onshore/offshore operations, recalling that the Escravos-Warri-Lagos Gas Pipeline suffered a major setback last year as a result of protesting Gbaramatu and Ugborodo women demanding for a better deal from both the NNPC and Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL.
NDIMRC also recalled that after a long delay, the management of NNPC and Chevron agreed to meet the demands of the Gbaramatu and Ugborodo people and the firm handling the Escravos-Warri-Lagos Gas Pipeline project was allowed to go back to site.
But the group claimed now that the first phase of the Escravos-Warri-Lagos Gas Pipeline project had been completed, NNPC is yet to fulfill its own part of the bargain to the people and vowed to disrupt the smooth operations of the project expected to boost power supply nationwide.
“NNPC should not deceive the people; people of the Niger Delta region should not be fooled. We want to recall the promises made by the Group Executive Director, Gas and Power of NNPC, Dr. David Ige to the peace-loving people of Gbaramatu and Ugborodo when he visited the royal father of Gbaramatu Kingdom. It was after these promises that the Federal Government agreed to meet the demands of the Gbaramatu and Ugborodo people and work once again resumed on the Gas Pipeline Project,” the group wrote.
It added that; “We are aware that the first phase of the Gas Pipeline project has been completed and gas is now flowing through the pipeline that our people gave peace a chance for its completion. The sacked GMD of NNPC, Engr. Austen Oniwon failed to fulfill the promises made by NNPC management to the people and now the Federal Government is enjoying the project without anybody thinking about meeting the demands of the Gbaramatu and Ugborode women. The women only demanded for the provision of drinkable water, hospitals and electricity.We want to warn that we will mobilize to protest against the smooth operations of the newly completed Escravos-Warri-Lagos Gas Pipeline if the promises made to the host communities are not fulfilled within the next 21 days. We make bold to say that we are not happy with the treatment being given to the host communities and we will protest on their behalf for them to get what they want from the management of NNPC,” they stated.
According to the group, “the management of NNPC should stop taking the people for granted; all stakeholders in the Niger Delta region should ensure a lasting peace in the region. Our findings have shown that in 2007, the NNPC promised the Gbaramatu people five boreholes, the contractor only did one because he was not paid while nothing was done at all about the boreholes the people of Ugborodo were promised; these unfulfilled promises are capable of creating tension in the Niger Delta region. We are therefore appealing to the new GMD of the NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu to meet the demands of the host communities of the Escravos-Warri-Lagos Gas Pipeline project because the EGTL project is too important to the Federal Government. We know that the new GMD of NNPC is capable of handling the situation; the people are expecting so much from the NNPC boss and so he should not disappoint the people. Right now, he should go ahead and meet the demands of the host communities. The Vice President, Namadi Sambo should assist the NNPC boss and award the contract for the execution of these projects to the host communities before the expiration of the 21 days we have given. But if this is not done, we will be left with no other option than to protest to NNPC facilities in the region. We will also take our protest to the Escravos Tank Farm, the Abiteye Flow station and we are also not going to allow our gas to be taken to other areas without the Niger Delta people being developed,” NDIMRC said.
Copyright: Fresh Angle International (www.freshangleng.com)
ISSN 2354 - 4104
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