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Rivers Intervenes in Youths Dispute With Shell

This Day (Lagos)
NEWS
December 7, 2004
Posted to the web December 7, 2004

By Okon Bassey
Port Harcourt
Rvers State Government has intervened in the face-off between irate youths from
Kula community and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Chevron
Nigeria Limited which resulted in the seizure of seven flow and gas stations in
the community. Oil workers operating the stations were also held hostage last
Sunday.
Already the state government has set up a committee which comprises the Deputy
Governor, Sir Gabriel Toby, the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly,
Hon. Tonye Harry, representatives of the affected oil companies among others to
look into the demands of the restive youths.
Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Comrade Honour Sirawwo said the meeting
with the affected organizations took place yesterday at the Brick House, Port
Harcourt, with all the parties involved in attendance.
According to him, the committee is to meet again within the next three days to
review its recommendations. He added that the state government has directed the
youths not to cause any breach of peace and should vacate the stations without
further delay.
Meanwhile, stakeholders of the Kula Kingdom have disassociated themselves from
any committee set up by the state government to look into their grievances over
the development in the area.
In a statement issued yesterday, the community declared that "it is
disheartening to note that Kula kingdom with over 173,000 barrels of crude oil
and 109,416 mmf gas supply per day from the four flow stations, gas booster
plants and a gas injection plant has been marginalized, suppressed, oppressed,
depressed for over 45 years in the light of the excruciating result of oil
exploration and exploitation degradation, devastation of our environment and
ecosystem."
"It is saddening to note that the Federal Government, State Government, NDDC
and the multinational companies have not initiated any comprehensive
development programme and no memorandum of understanding in terms of
sustainable development, employment of youths, women empowerment and capacity
building programme," it noted.
The community regretted that with the gas production figures, Kula community is
not recognized as an LNG host community. "Over the years, our expired lease of
oil and gas pipelines have not been paid."
The community resolved that for peace to reign, the Federal Government, State
Government, NNPC, Niger Delta Development commission (NDDC), the managing
Directors of Shell, Chevron and Texaco should enter into comprehensive
negotiation before works can resume at the affected stations.
According to the statement, the decision to shut down the four flow and gas
stations was taken last weekend after an exhaustive deliberation on the issue.
It listed the affected stations and production capacity to include Robert Kiri
32,000 barrels of crude oil per day, Belema 43,000 barrels of crude oil per
day, Ekulama 136,000 barrels of crude oil per day, Ekulama 262, 000 barrels of
crude oil per day.
Others are Belema gas injection plant 38,766 mmscf of per day and Ekulama 2,
gas booster station 70,560 mmscf of per day.
The statement was signed by chairman and members of Kula Council of Chiefs,
Kula Community Development Committee, Kula Compound Leaders, Kula Youth
Organization, Kula Graduates Union, Kula Central Women Group, Leaders and the
entire people of Kula Kingdom in Akuku-Toru Local Government area of the state.

   

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