Olero Creek Oil Field Communities threaten fresh  shutdown of Chevron  operations, over perceived neglect

The rich Olero Creek Oil Field Communities in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, have  threatened to shut down  operations of Chevron Nigeria Limited in the field, over perceived neglect by the company  as well as the Federal and Delta State Governments, amid sustained increase in the monthly allocations from FAAC.

Our Principal Correspondent, reports that the Chairman of Olero Oil Field Communities, Dr. Roland Ukuesan, handed down the warning Saturday December 6 in Warri, during a media briefing.              

According to him, Delta State Government and Chevron Nigeria Limited, have continued to neglect  the  seven communities that make up the Olero Creek Oil Field in Chevron's operational area.                

The communities, include; Ebrohimi, Obaghoro, Tebu, Gbokoda, Aja-Amita, Udo, Jakpa and their satellite communities.                            

Dr. Ukuesan noted  that they have three Federal Electoral Wards (1,2 and 3) in Warri North, with massive voting strength that have always ensured electoral Victories, naming   Jakpa community  as  part of Ward 1.

He   blamed the Federal government for the continued neglect of their area,  calling for urgent  provision of basic social amenities in the communities.

Dr. Ukuesan, read out an  open letter to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.                        The letter reads: 

"Your Excellency, we have chosen to adopt this open method of reaching out to you haven exhausted all other means through direct letters, well acknowledged by your humble office and several meetings with your Commissioners about the absence of basic infrastructural amenities in our communities. Regrettably, since our last correspondence, coupled with several meetings held with your commissioners, no visible action or intervention has been taken by your administration.

"Your Excellency, our communities cannot continue to be in perpetual darkness and without portable drinking water, and other basic social amenities in the face of our enormous contribution to the State and National economy, through oil and gas production. The irony remains that while resources extracted from our land sustain the Nation, our people are left without the most basic necessities of life, including health care.

"We wish to categorically state that this neglect has caused death and untold hardship, by exposing our people to health risks due to lack of portable water and electricity and also limiting the social and economic development in our areas.

"His Excellency Sir, we are again compelled to ask: "Is it justifiable for the communities that lay the golden eggs for our State and Nation to continue to be treated with such disregard"?. It Must Be Noted that from the inception of the creation of Delta State, our area has NEVER been paid attention to in the State's Budgetary Provision for Infrastructural Development and this also includes the 2026 BUDGET PROPOSAL..

"The ever peaceful Oloro Creek Communities of Ebrohimi, Obaghoro, Tebu, Gbokoda, Aja-Amita, Udo, Jakpa and their satellite communities have three Federal Electoral Wards (1,2 and 3), with massive voting strength that has always ensure Electoral Victories. Jakpa community is part of ward 1.

"His Excellency, we have also watched with dismay that attention is always given to areas /communities with hostility tendencies which are NOT INVESTMENT FRIENDLY. To this end, we call on the State Government to use their good offices to take immediate action to ensure that the Olero Field Communities are provided with portable drinking water and gas powered generators (in the interim), pending when they can be connected to the national electricity grid.

"While trusting in the "M.O.R.E AGENDA" leadership of the State and believing that the State cannot allow this persistent neglect to continue, we urge the State to commerce the construction of Internal Roads Network, Shore Protection and Sand Filling, Housing Estate, Functional Health Facilities, and Provision of Portable Drinking Water and Light, among others.

"We make the following Demands:-

Construction of internal road network and housing estate.

Construction of modern healthcare facilities.

A time-bound plan for electricity and potable water.

A fair employment policy prioritizing Olero indigenes.

Adherence to the recently signed policy on contract by the Federal Government that priorities the patronage of Host Communities Contractors.

Demand dredging of creeks to make some of our Communities more accessible.

"These demands are non-negotiable, as they represent the barest minimum of justice and fairness owed to our people, as our people are already restless and will be ready to do all within their reach to attract the attention of the Government at all levels and the World.

"We look forward to prompt and visible steps towards addressing these pressing issues without further delay"

Secretary of the field, Hon. Samson Ogboduwa, Former Chairman of Warri North Local Government Area,  Hon. Aduge Okorodudu, Olero Creek Oil Field Women leader, Mrs. Roselyn Leigh, Opinion Leader Olero Creek Oil Field Communities, Comrade Canaan Ajagbawa,  Hon. Bawo Nanna, Youth President Shamita/Assistant Secretary Olero Creek Oil Field Communities and  Alfred Jemine,  represented various communities in the oil field during the briefing.

×