Bolo Seeks Recognition As Host To SPDC

L-R: Commissioner for Market Competition and Rates, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Mr Patrick Umeh, Deputy General Manager, Engineering, Mr Abdul Mohammed and NERC chairman, Dr Sam Amadi, at the meeting of consumer advocay groups in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry in Abuja.

Bolo Community in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State has warned the Federal Government and the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria not to exclude it from ongoing negotiations on Bomu and Bodo-West Oilfields, which they jointly own with the Ogonis.
The Bolo Community, which stated this while speaking with The Tide through their lawyer, Barr Mela Oforibika in Port Harcourt yesterday,  blamed SPDC alleged  policy of divide-and-role for their plight.
Oforibika explained that the Ogonis had boundary with Bolo and noted that  there was no reason why his clients should be excluded from the discussion with SPDC.
He described the Ogonis as agriculturists, and pointed out that his clients were fishermen.
According to him, “Bodo-West” is a technical term which describes the oilfields in the area, which in no way suggests that oilfields are owned by the Ogonis”.
Oforibika insisted that SPDC should recognize the territory of its host community.
The Abuja-based lawyer expressed regrets at the attitude of the SPDC, and remarked that  his clients could not be shut out when their territory was being discussed.
Oforibika also stated that they had written several letters to the company but that the company has not responded to any.
He said they had gone to court on the issue, but that the SPDC had not shown any sign that they wanted to settle.
In one of the letters titled, “Demand For Inclusion of Bolo Communities in Negotiations for Appointment of A New Operator For Bomu and Bodo-West Oilfields In Mining Lease (OML) 11”, Oforibika contended that his clients (the Bolos) owned 2.1 hectares in Bomu Well 42 as well as the land and territory on which all the eleven (11) oil wells of the Aseming Olaka Oilfields in Bodo-West lie.
He said the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Environmental Assessment  of “Ogoni land” report on page 53 had mapped Bodo-West as belonging to Ogu/Bolo Community.
Oforibika, therefore, urged SPDC to turn a new leaf, and accord the Bolo Community the necessary recognition.