50 Years of Neglect: Urhobo youth demands economic justice; threatens to shut down oil production

By Shedrack Onitsha,

 

Urhobo Youth Leaders Association (UYLA), has tasked the federal government of Nigeria address the over 50 years of social-economic neglect of the Urhobo nation, threatening to shut down all  Oil and Gas installations and production in Urhoboland if their demands are not met.

UYLA, in 10-point demands, said that it will join their Ijaw and Itsekiri brothers in Oil and Gas Host Communities in the struggle to end the wicked plans of the Federal Government to deny them benefits from their God-given oil, gas, and water resources.

The group in a statement signed by its Acting National President, Olorogun Vincent Oyibode, National Secretary, Chief Tony Ofoni and its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Samuel Oghotomo at a press conference in Udu, Udu local government, Delta State, said Urhobo peaceful disposition should not be taken for cowardice.

According to them, the Host Communities in Delta State rejects the plan to divert Delta State gas to develop other parts of Nigeria while neglecting their areas.

The called on the federal government as a matter of urgency to pay compensation of N500 Billion to families of victims of the Idjerhe burst pipeline fire of 1998 that roasted about 1000 persons to death in Ethiope West LGA.

They also charged the government to release the Sapele Sea Port taken over by the Nigerian Navy in order to restored for commercial shipping in the port and also boost the economy of Delta State, noting that the Navy is underutilizing the seaport at the moment.

They added that the Urhobo Oil and Gas Host Communities unequivocally support demands for resource control, equity, and justice, stressing that like the Anti-Taxation Revolt in Warri Province in 1927, where Urhobo, Ijaw, Itsekiri, Isoko and Ndukwa nations rejected the British imposition of head tax on male adults, they are collectively rejecting the unjust policies of the federal government against Deltans.

According to the UYLA statement which reads in parts; “Urhobo land is rich in oil and gas resources, with over 400 wells in 14 fields. The first oil well in the western Niger Delta was drilled at the Urhobo Community of Afiesere in 1959. The Ughelli Quality Control Centre, Eruemukohwarien opened by Shell in 1967 is the largest crude oil depot in our region. The Kokori-Orogun Oil Field at Erhoike produces the highest grade of oil in the world.

“Urhoboland has vast reserves of natural gas, accounting for about 25% of the national total. The gigantic Utorogu Gas Plant in Ughievwen and Udu Kingdoms is the biggest in Africa. It processes gas for the Utorogu-Escravos-Lagos Pipeline that serves Ondo, Ogun and Lagos States as well as West African countries of Benin Republic, Togo and Ghana.

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“Gas from the Utorogu Plant will also supply the $2.8 billion Ajaokuta-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano-Niger Republic Pipeline with final destination market in Europe. The situation of the Utorogu Gas Plant exposes the unjust policies of the Federal Government. For 30 years, its management and contractors have deliberately breached local content regulations of employment and services for the host communities of Udu and Ughievwen Kingdoms.

“Urhobo gas-fired electricity turbines in Ekakpamre and Ogorode (Sapele) generate hundreds of megawatts transmitted to other parts of the country; the electricity from these facilities is not stepped down for use in our communities. For 50 years, oil wealth from Urhoboland has transformed Lagos and environs, built Abuja, many state capitals, and Federal institutions, airports, highways, railways and amenities all over Nigeria.

“In spite of the enormous contribution of the Urhobo Nation to Nigeria’s development, our people wallow in abject poverty; they are shackled and impoverished by unemployment, diseases and insecurity. Urhobo cities and towns are neglected, dirty, clustered with slums and polluted by rickety commercial tricycles and motorcycles. For the above instances of federal neglect and injustice, Urhobo Oil and Gas Host Communities will join the Ijaw and Itsekiri in the current struggle. Therefore, if the Federal Government fails to address the issues and demands within the ultimatum given, Urhobo Oil and Gas Host Communities will also shut down oil and gas facilities in their areas.

“Accordingly, we hereby make these 10 Demands on the Federal Government:

“Stop the sale of 57 marginal oil fields to strangers and give priority of choice to investors from the Host Communities.

“Suspend the plan to divert our gas to Ajaokuta, Abuja, Kaduna, Kano and the Niger Republic, until All Host Communities are guaranteed regular electricity supply by stepping down electricity from gas-turbine power stations in Delta State at Ekakpamre, Sapele and Amai.

“Disband the illegal Interim Management Committee of the NDDC and inaugurate the new Board screened and confirmed by the National Assembly several months ago.

“Satisfy the ignored demands submitted by the Federation of Host Communities to Utorogu Gas Plant for local content jobs and contracts for Phases 2 and 3 or else face a shutdown of the Plant.

“Pay compensation of N500 Billion to families of victims of the Idjerhe burst pipeline fire of 1998 that roasted about 1000 persons to death in Ethiope West LGA.

“Release the Sapele Port taken over by the Nigerian Navy so that it can be restored for commercial shipping to boost the economy of Delta State.

“Complete the Ogidigben Gas Project and Okerenkoko Deep Sea Port, the East-West Highway, the Omadino-Escravos Road and the Koko-Ogheye Road by 2021. It should be noted that much of the gas stock for the Ogidigben project will be sourced from Urhobo land. There should be memoranda of understanding with Urhobo Oil and Gas Host Communities to work out equitable formulas for the employment of Urhobo local personnel, management staff, and execution of major contracts and supplies.

Stop action on the proposed law for Federal monopoly ownership of Niger Delta Rivers and waterways which are our natural heritage and identity.

Guarantee adequate funding for the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, and the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko to enable them to play their strategic roles in the global knowledge economy.

Start the implementation of the Report of the 2014 National Conference, including 100% resource control, State/LGA police.

Urhobo, Ijaw, Itsekiri: One Struggle, One Victory.”