Looming Showdown Between Ijaw Youth Council And SPDC

Over BNAG Project EIA Report At Oloma Community

By Anderson Hart

Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide is threatening a showdown with multinational oil giant Shell over alleged refusal by the oil company to publicly display the Environmental Impact assessment (EIA) report for the over N500 million naira BNAG project at oil rich Oloma community in Bonny local government of Rivers state.

Shell is said to have defiantly concluded plans to mobilize to camp on Tuesday 2nd September 2014, but in a swift reaction the IYC has said SPDC should jettison the idea of mobilizing to site without meeting the statutory demands and inquiries of the concerned stakeholders in Oloma community and its environs.

The situation is even made worst following the refusal by SPDC and the subcontractor handling the Oloma BNAG project, Abbey Court Energy Services to honour Police invitation last Friday 29nd August 2014 which was aimed at settling the dagger drawn.

The looming crisis may result in dire consequences if relevant authorities especially the security operatives did not move fast to stop SPDC and its sub contractor Abbey Court Energy Services Limited who defiantly is about to mobilize to site on Tuesday 2nd of September 2014.

Meanwhile the chairman of Ijaw youth council Eastern zone, Hon. Comrade Peter Timothy Igbifa has urged Shell to do the needful by adhering to the statutory provisions of GMou reached between the company and the community in carrying out any project. He stressed that as an advocate and pressure group of the ijaw people, IYC will ensure that the right things are done no matter whose ox is gored.

Speaking to newsmen, the vice Chairman of Ijaw Youth Council Eastern Zone Elders Consultative Forum, Warisenibo Prince MacPepple, Osimiri 1 of Grand Bonny lamented the age long regrettable conduct of SPDC in Rivers state.

He said the elders and youths of Oloma community have been frustrated by the impunity and conduct of SPDC officials and her subcontractors, he requested for urgent intervention, which is to block both the company and the subcontractors from mobilizing to site without meeting the statutory demands and inquiries of the concerned stakeholders in Oloma community and its environs..

The youths and elders of the community are also accusing the oil giant and the subcontractor of complicity and corrupt practices in how various skilled workers have been employed and how the several vital contracts are awarded.

Meanwhile the body in charge if employment in the area, Bonny Kingdom Employment Bureau (BKEB) has exonerated itself from any complicity in the saga, saying it is unaware of the list of those shortlisted for employment at the project site.

Hon Sunju Blue-Jack, Secretary of the Bonny Kingdom Employment Bureau claimed lack of knowledge on the employment activities at the site, and advised the collaborators of SPDC and Abbey court energy services ltd to put their employment activities on hold in order to prevent a likely breakdown of law and order in the kingdom.

All attempt to get SPDC and Abbey Court Energy services limited to state their side of the story proved abortive, as they prefer to remain silent on the issue.