- Some residents of a community in Bayelsa state have protested against neglect from the federal government and Shell Petroleum Development Company
- The residents accused the duo of neglecting the community since the past 47 years
- The protesters said they were yet to benefit from the natural gift that they were blessed with especially after SPDC have continued to operate in the community since 1970
Residents of Peretorugbene community in Ekeremor council area of Bayelsa state have accused the federal government and oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company of neglecting their plights since 1970.
The people in a protest said they have been neglected by FG and the oil company 47 years after exploration of oil in their community and land.
The residents said they were yet to benefit from the natural gift that they were blessed with especially after SPDC have continued to operate in the community since the '70s.
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In their protest, the group made up of men, women and children of the Peretorugbene community carried placards with various inscriptions.
Some of the placards read: “Give us Skills Acquisition Centres in Peretorugbene”; “We need portable drinking water and gas turbine for electricity”; “Buhari give us 100 housing units”; “Give us an access road from Peretorugbene to Ojobo” among man others.
Also speaking with journalists, the leader of the community, Bossman Amoda, said although the community appreciates President Muhammadu Buhari for the approval of the pipeline surveillance job for the youths and men of the community, such decision should not be used to substitute the needed development for the community.
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“In the history of Peretorugbene community, this is the first time such a unique and satisfactory job is coming to our people from the federal government. It is a welcome development because it will curtail youth restiveness in our community. But it shouldn’t be seen as a replacement for physical development.”
“Peretorugbene community has been a host community to Shell Petroleum Development Company for over 47 years with the biggest oil manifold in West Africa, which is the Brass Creek Manifold.
But you will be surprised to hear that there’s no government presence in our community, despite our large contribution towards the national economy.
“Up till this present moment, our only source of drinking and cooking water is the river, which has resulted to different kinds of illnesses in our community," Amoda said.
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Amoda further called on the federal government and Shell to immediately pay urgent attention and provide the community with their entitlements.
NAIJ.com earlier reported that the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) had condemned the Nigeria police over the alleged killing of three youths in Luebe community of Ogoniland.
MOSOP said the deceased were allegedly killed while trying to prevent policemen from escorting stolen petroleum products through their community.
The group also demanded an end to mindless killing of the people of the area by operatives of security agencies in Nigeria.
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Source: Naija.ng