Itsekiri riverine communi
ties in Delta State, yesterday, proposed an 11-point demand to the Federal Government for reasonable peace and development to ensue in the Niger Delta region.
They include shoreline protection and reclamation of sinking Itsekiri communities, re-allocation of oil blocs to benefit host communities, electrification of Itsekiri and Ijaw communities along the Escravos Bar, and commencement of work on the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) project at Ogidigben.
The communities, in a position paper signed by the Ajuwaoyiboyanmi, aka Akulagba of Warri, Chief Ayirimi Emami, said: “Oil and gas facilities in Itsekiri areas should be allowed to be secured and maintained by indigenous/community-based companies or contractors with capacity in collaboration with other companies with required expertise outside the communities.”
They said: “Since the groundbreaking of the Export Processing Zone (EPZ), Ogidigben in March, 2015, the project has been lying fallow with no indications of work in progress. Based on this, we call on the Federal Government to commence work on the site, as it will help in curbing criminal activities by restive youth in the area.
“The Itsekiri riverine communities along the Escravos axis and some in the Benin River axis are now below sea level during high tide seasons. Most of these communities lie along the same plane with multinationals whose primary activities are oil and gas exploration in the localities. Government should, therefore, commence immediate shoreline protection and reclamation/sand filling necessary for human habitation to avert the communities being washed off into the Atlantic Ocean.
“Government should dredge and widen the Escravos Bar-mouth because its shallowness militate against the accessibility of cargo vessels to Warri Seaport, which would have helped to boost the economy of the region by means of providing employment for restive youth through commercial activities,” the communities asserted.
Lamenting the high level of unemployment in the area, they said: “The federal and state governments and IOCs operating in Itsekiri localities should make it an obligation to engage indigenous youth and qualified individuals within their areas of operation during recruitment process.”
On oil bloc allocation, they noted: “It is impracticable and unprecedented for people to be hosts to oil blocs, yet do not benefit from the proceeds. This will make the people have no choice than resorting to vandalism and sabotage.