Oil Community Demands Pipeline Surveillance Contract

The people of Ilaje-
Yoruba oil producing communities of Ondo State have appealed to the Federal Government to consider them in the award of the Ondo State Coastline axis of the contract.
The Ilaje Emancipation and Development Assembly, in a statement signed by its President, Prince Jeffrey Ogunfeyimi and Secretary, Omoba Ezekiel Oyetakin laid claim to the ownership of the longest coastline in Nigeria and Africa with its oil exploration and exploitation dating back to 1958.
Noting that about 1,892, 174,000 barrels of oil have been lifted from Ilaje land by oil companies in the area, the statement said that no other tribe inhabits the coast of Ondo State apart from the people of Ilaje of Yoruba extraction in the west.
“Therefore, a denial of the good people of Ilaje in the award of the coastal Pipelines Surveillance contract shall be deemed an injustice to the entire people of Yoruba land”, the statement stated.
It explained that it is the oil production in Ilaje land and not the presence of the Ijaws, as it is often misconstruced, is the sole reason why Ondo State is categorized as one of the nine oil producing states in Nigeria.
According to the statement, inspite of the 18 local government areas in Ondo State, it is Ilaje, is the only oil producing Local Government that is most improverished due to oil degradation and environmental pollution.
The assembly regretted that as a result of the situation, houses along the coastline have been washed away, leaving the improverished people with erection of temporary abode along the coast.
“The combined effect of these have caused destruction of aquatic habitat, damage to the eco system and ill-health among our people”, the statement said, adding that cases of high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke remain common sickness in the land.
The group further noted that “there are lots of agitations and pressure on government by our Ijaw neighbours in Ondo State to gluttonously obtain the pipeline security surveillance contract passing through our coastline to the environmental and financial detriment of the people of Ilaje”.
It said Ilaje people would not allow a situation where a non-indigenous person or group would be given the contract, and pointed out that nothing threatens the security of the pipelines and the general peace of the region than denial of the right of the people and their due opportunity.

Chris Oluoh

Crude deposits afloat Ogboinbiri River in Southern Ijaw Lga of Bayelsa State due to leaks in the area last Wednesday.