Oil & Energy
Bodo Community And Shell Compensation
Even as most Nigeri
ans currently struggle with the effects of the austerity measures declared by the Federal Government in response to the present economic reality in the country, the people of Bodo community in Gokana local government area of Rivers State are celebrating their economic fortune.
From the right, left and centre of this Ogoni community, many new buildings are being erected, old ones undergoing massive renovations; new fishing gears, canoes, vehicles and wholesome household items are being acquired.
This socio-economic boom in Bodo is as result of the N25 billion compensation paid to the natives by the Anglo-Dutch oil giant, Shell Production Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) for a massive oil spill in the area in 2008.
Reliving the situation in an interview with The Tide in his house on Thursday, the Chairman, Bodo Council of Chiefs, Chief Livinus Kiebel, said “Bodo is agog. People who have not seen N10,000 before in their life are receiving at least N600,000.00 individual claims, as compensation, so you can see the joy in our faces, people dancing and women celebrating. It has never happened before in the community.
It is a long battle that started since 2008 when the community suffered a major oil spill from SPDC’s 28-inch pipeline from Bodo to Bonny Trans Atlantic, laid as far back as 1958,” he said.
He said due to the effect of salt water and corrosion on the pipes, there was rapture eruption and spill which gushed out uncontrollably for over one month polluting the water, killing seafoods, mangrove and in face all the acquatic life in the area.
Kiebel stated that when the community drew the attention of the oil company to the serious situation, “as usual, SPDC denied responsibility and started giving one excuse or the other. It said the spill was caused by a third party and illegal bunkering activities. And for over one month, the crude kept gushing.
“But we stood our ground, insisting that Shell must pay compensation. When we realised the company would not budge, we took our matter to the government through the Ministry of Environment at the state and federal levels and also drew the attention of some relevant NGOs and civil society organisaitons”, he said.
The Bodo Chiefs councils chairman remarked that when SPDC discovered that Bodo community meant business, they brought their experts and because of the influence of the joint negotiation between SPDC, Government, NGOs and civil society groups, the company accepted the spill was as a result of equipment failure and there fore accepted responsibility.
He disclosed that at first, the company applied its divide-and-rule system by covnering the youths and promising to pay them N10 million and that this angered the youths who reported the ploy to the entire community.
Kiebel, who is a former local government chairman said the community hired the services of a legal luminary and son of Ogoni, B.M Wifa (SAN) who then sued SPDC before a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.
When that was moving at a slow speed because of the oil politics in Nigeria and the unwillingness of Federal Government to show interest, the community decided to drag Shell to The Heague.
“One of our sons, a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, suggested a legal firm, Leighday and Company – a legal firm which he uncovered through research had successfully handled similar matters in Africa insisting we could get justice through the law firm,” he continued, saying Leighday effectively handled the matter.
According to him, representatives of the firm were in Bodo Creek to Bonny and all over the community boarders to see the extent of the spill and damages and at last sued for both individual and communal claims.
Form more than six months, he said Leighday law firm interviewed our people, filmed and captured in many forms, cases of those whose livelihood depend on the sea and after the legal battle, Shell settled for a compensation of N25 billion, which was below but we decided to accept the offer.
Commending the Leiyhday law firm, Kiebel said they were professional and straight forward in their approach and the ability of the firm to secure justice for Bodo community has brought transformation to the area as the people happily invest their money into many economic activities.
One of the women told The Tide that, the name Leighday is a source of big joy to her and her family.
“I have five children. I received a huge sum and my children also got theirs individually and when we pooled the money together, it was like a big dream.
I thank Leighday, I thankGod for the turn around the development has brought to my family.
The respondent who identified herself as Mama Lebari noted that even women and youths who do not know how to speak English Language all know and sing with the name Leighday.
Another respondent, Mercy Job said, “I now own my own beauty Salon. I leant Salon business for past 5 years but could not open my own shop.
But today this big shop is mine and the next store with provisions and foodstuff is also mine. I thank Jehovah for his blessings.
“If I marry and born any child whether male or female, I don’t care, I will name that child “Leighday” to mark the time I met this turn around in my life,”she said.
Job said her family was living in a very small family house of three rooms but today, they have almost completed a five-bedroom flat with a three-room boys quarter.
A Bodo-based businessman who hails from Abia State, Charles Amobi, said he deals on building materials and that the economic transformation has reflected well in his business.
“The sale I normally make for one week before, I atimes make that in one day and my customers pay instead of buying on credit. I hope that this situation will remain,” he remarked.
The Tide gathered that churches in the community are also richer because of the economic boom in the community. Chief Kiebel who confirmed this said, “my church, St Patrick Catholic Church, has gotten N20 million through tithe and appreciations for members who received the compensation.
As a mark of appreciation, the traditional ruler also said the community was arranging a special package to Leighday legal firm which he could not disclose to me as a way of appreciating the firms support to his people.
However, the good fortune is not going without adverse effects on the community.
According to kiebel, two cases have been brought before his palace. “Some husbands have fallen apart from their wives. They asked their wives to bring their share so that they could combine it as part of joint account but the women refused and are asking for divorce instead,” said Kiebel.
He also said, that more young men are acquiring wives now that the money is available.
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Nigeria’s losses due to crude oil theft has been said to be more significant than those of some other members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries(OPEC).
The Chairman, Senate Ad- hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft, Senator Ned Nwoko, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
Nwoko noted with dismay the detrimental impact of the issue, which, he said include economic damage, environmental destruction, and its impact on host communities.
According to him, the theft was not only weakening the Naira, but also depriving the nation of vital revenue needed for infrastructure, healthcare, education and social development.
The Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District described the scale of the theft as staggering, with reports indicating losses of over 200,000 barrels per day.
Nwoko disclosed that the ad hoc committee on Crude Oil Theft, which he chairs, recently had a two-day public hearing on the rampant theft of crude oil through illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism, and the systemic gaps in the regulation and surveillance of the nation’s petroleum resources.
According to him, the public hearing was a pivotal step in addressing one of the most pressing challenges facing the nation.
‘’Nigeria loses billions of dollars annually to crude oil theft. This is severely undermining our economy, weakening the Naira and depriving the nation of vital revenue needed for infrastructure, healthcare, education, and social development.
‘’The scale of this theft is staggering, with reports indicating losses of over 200,000 barrels per day more than some OPEC member nations produce.
‘’This criminal enterprise fuels corruption, funds illegal activities and devastates our environment through spills and pollution.
‘’The public hearing was not just another talk shop; it was a decisive platform to uncover the root causes of crude oil theft, bunkering and pipeline vandalism.
‘’It was a platform to evaluate the effectiveness of existing surveillance, monitoring, and enforcement mechanisms; Identify regulatory and legislative gaps that enable these crimes to thrive.
‘’It was also to engage stakeholders, security agencies, host communities, oil companies, regulators, and experts to proffer actionable solutions; and strengthen legal frameworks to ensure stricter penalties and more efficient prosecution of offenders”, he said.
Nwoko noted that Nigeria’s survival depended
Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd. (SNEPCo) has called on Nigerian companies to position themselves strategically to take full advantage of the growing opportunities in upcoming offshore and shallow water oil and gas projects.
The Managing Director, SNEPCO, Ronald Adams, made the call at the 5th Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) Conference, held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, last Thursday.
Adams highlighted the major projects, including Bonga Southwest Aparo, Bonga North, and the Bonga Main Life Extension, as key areas where Nigerian businesses can grow their capacity and increase their involvement.
“Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd. (SNEPCo) says Nigerian companies have a lot to benefit if they are prepared to take advantage of more opportunities in its offshore and shallow water oil and gas projects.
“Projects such as Bonga Southwest Aparo, Bonga North and Bonga Main Life Extension could grow Nigerian businesses and improve their expertise if they applied themselves seriously to executing higher value contracts”, Adams stated.
Adams noted that SNEPCo pioneered Nigeria’s deepwater oil exploration with the Bonga development and has since played a key role in growing local industry capacity.
He emphasized that Nigerian businesses could expand in key areas like logistics, drilling, and the construction of vital equipment such as subsea systems, mooring units, and gas processing facilities.
The SNEPCO boss explained that since production began at the Bonga field in 2005, SNEPCo has worked closely with Nigerian contractors to build systems and develop a skilled workforce capable of delivering projects safely, on time, and within budget both in Nigeria and across West Africa.
According to him, this long-term support has enabled local firms to take on key roles in managing the Bonga Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, which reached a major milestone by producing its one-billion barrel of oil on February 3, 2023.
The Emohua Local Government Area Administrator, Franklin Ajinwo, has pledged to improve electricity distribution in Oduoha Ogbakiri and its environs.
Ajinwo made the pledge recently while playing host in a courtesy visit to the Oduoha Ogbakiri Wezina Council of Chiefs, in his office in Rumuakunde.
He stated that arrangements are underway to enhance available power, reduce frequent outages, and promote steady electricity supply.
The move, he said, was aimed at boosting small and medium-scale businesses in the area.
“The essence of power is not just to have light at night. It’s for those who can use it to enhance their businesses”, he said.
The Administrator, who commended the peaceful nature of Ogbakiri people, urged the Chiefs to continue in promoting peace and stability, saying “meaningful development can only thrive in a peaceful environment”.
He also charged the Chiefs to protect existing infrastructure while promising to address the challenges faced by the community.
Earlier, the Oduoha Ogbakiri Wezina Council of Chiefs, led by HRH Eze Goodluck Mekwa Eleni Ekenta XV, expressed gratitude to the Administrator over his appointment and pledged their support to his administration.
The chiefs highlighted challenges facing the community to include incessant power outage, need for new transformers, and the completion of Community Secondary School, Oduoha.
The visit underscored the community’s expectations from the LGA administration.
With Ajinwo’s assurance of enhancing electricity distribution and promoting development, the people of Oduoha Ogbakiri said they look forward to a brighter future.
By: King Onunwor