OPUAMA - POLOBUBO WOMEN HALTS OPERATION OF NPDC/ELCREST JOINT VENTURE....
.....SAYS THEY WILL REMAIN ON THE OPUAMA FLOW STATION UNTIL THEIR DEMANDS ARE MET*
Women from Opuama and Polobubo communities in Egbema kingdom of Warri North Local Government council area have been protesting on the Opuama flow station owned by Nigerian Petroleum Development Company NPDC/Elcrest Joint Venture to draw the attention of the Federal and State Governments as well as relevant authorities to the plights of the Communities.
The women who have taken over the facility of the company for two days counting said they will remain on the facility until their demands are met.
These are women from Opuama and Polobubo communities occupying the Opuama flow station owned by Nigerian Petroleum Development Company NPDC/ Elcrest Joint Venture operation
The protesting Women alleged that an Oil spill which came from NPDC/Elcrest asset has made life difficult for them as they no longer go for fishing activities.
The women also added that they also decided to embarked on the peaceful protest to draw the attention of the company towards recognizing their host and bloc of Communities women in terms of awarding of catering and cleaning contracts to them and not women from outside.
The Opuama and Polobubo Women also demanded that the company increase the scholarship slots to 100 so as to accommodate more indigenes school children, give more job opportunities to their husbands and children.
For his part the Youth President of Polobubo Bloc of Communities, Mr Paul Toruwei in an interview alleged that on the 14th of last month the Communities noticed oil spills, then reported it to the company but added that the company did nothing to address it.
Mr Paul Toruwei commended the women for their peaceful protest and implored the Federal and State Governments as well as other relevant authorities to wade on NPDC/ Elcrest to send relief materials and drugs to the Communities to help cushion the impact of the alleged Oil spill.
Other who spoke in a similar vein, including the secretary Apostle Karekonde Nimi, the PRO Comrade Governor Ekpokeme and Mr Matthew Kekebiwei Sanjumi an engineer all shared in the suffering the Women are undergoing in protesting for the right of the crude oil and gas producing but underdeveloped Communities.
When news tried to get the company reaction on the protest, those on ground declined comments, adding that their Head Office only have the authority to speak to the press.
With the determination of these women to remain on this NPDC/Elcrest facility until their demands are met, it only necessary that all concerned stakeholders sit to address the issues prompting the protest for the good of all parties.
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