Communities Threaten SPDC Over Alleged Neglect

Some communities in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, have threatened to shut down operations of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in the area.

The communities are Amatu, Bilabiri, Bisangbene and Letugbene.

The communities, under the umbrella of ‘AABBL United Communities Forum,’ alleged that SPDC had failed to develop the communities where it carried out oil exploration since 2001.

According to The Tide source, the Chairman of the forum, Francis Amamogiran, at a media briefing in Yenagoa,

He said: “Since the inception of Exploration Area (EA) drilling campaign to production, no deliberate policy, programme and no effort has been put in place by SPDC to impact on the human capital development of our people.”

Amamogiran alleged that rather than develop the people, SPDC had continued to operate a “divide and rule” policy. He said the company awarded a 21-day vessel support contract to 24 companies with the intention of setting the communities ablaze.

“It is disheartening and sad that since the inception of the EA programme in 2001, no life changing contract has been given to any of our contractors who have met the stipulated conditions,” he said.