Egbema Community Alleges Neglect By Shell

The people of Egbema in Imo State, an oil producing area, last week staged a peaceful protest over alleged neglect by the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and its joint venture companies.

They alleged that since oil exploration began in the area since 54 years ago, they have not benefitted from the proceeds of oil.

The protesters noted that Egbema had contributed immensely to the nation’s oil revenue but suffer untold neglect in the area of provision of infrastructure, health, employment and education.

The people said: “Our children are not employed, there is no light in our place, we have oil wells all around, no good structures. Shell is not doing anything for us, so that is why we are protesting.

We were wishing that the people that came in to take away oil from our land would have been able to improve the impoverishment of our people. Sorry, since 54 years till today, nothing is in hand to write home about. This is where we find ourselves!!

The people also said that the SPDC had refused to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with host communities to justify their corporate social responsibility.

“Let them come, let us sit down and renegotiate, we’ve not written anything about MoU. They should come for us to talk and renegotiate.”

Our oil wells are there giving federal government money and everything while we have nothing.

We labour all day without good shelters, feeling hungry while we have oil. So, we need help.

The federal government should come and help us,” they lamented.

Shedie Okpara