From Ameachi Prosper(The New Diplomat’s Delta State Correspondent)
Crisis is currently brewing in the oil rich Umuseti community in Ndokwa West LGA, Delta State as an oil flow station has allegedly been shut down by angry youths in the area.
The oil facility which is operated by Pillar Oil Company was seen in a trending video being shut down by some irate youths under the aegis of Ndokwa Niger Delta Warriors.
Going by the pronouncements of the aggrieved youths in the trending video in one of the social media channels, the youths said they are determined to “emancipate Ndokwa people from years of neglect and marginalisation allegedly by government and oil companies.”
However, it was learnt that one of the remote causes of the crisis stems from the fact that the tenure of office of Umuseti Community Development Committee, Kwale had expired but the executive refused to step aside in accordance with stipulated protocols.
It was further gathered that rather than halt further financial disbursements to the CDC, Pillar Oil was allegedly still paying royalty to the executive whose tenure has since lapsed.
As a result, a faction of the community youths led by one Frank said to be based in the United States organized his team, and allegedly facilitated the shut down of the flow station.
Meanwhile, governor Ifeanyi Okowa has decried oil companies’ neglect of host communities expressing concern over the non-implementation of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by some oil companies operating in the state.
The governor who spoke on Friday when he played host to Ndokwa youths delegation also expressed disappointment in some of the companies for failing to partner with the state government to develop host communities in spite of existing peace in the communities.
It was learnt that most stakeholders in Ndokwa area especially the youths have recently been voicing their opposition to ill-treatment from oil companies operating in their communities, warning that their peaceful disposition should not be taken for cowardice.
At various fora, and even in open letters to the authorities, the Ndokwa people had reportedly decried alleged infrastructural neglect of their land where massive oil exploration and exploitation activities are taking place.
Recall that they they had also bemoaned the political marginalisation of its people, warning that they were running out of patience , and that urgent steps should be taken to address the alleged anomaly.
As at the time of filing this report, the company was yet to react. However, inside sources said they were waiting for the Chief Executive Officer of Pillar Oil company before any official position could be taken.
