We’ve Spent N300m In Kula Dev – SPDC

The management  of Shell Petroleum  Development Company,  (SPDC), says it has spent  N300 million in the  execution  of various development  projects in Kula  community, in Akuku Toru Local  Government Area of Rivers State in the past  10 years.
Manager, External Relations of SPDC,  Igo Weli, disclosed this in a press statement issued to The Tide in Port Harcourt, at the  weekend in reactions to allegations by Kula community, that the oil giant has failed  to carry out its corporate social responsibilities in the area.
The statement  said most OML25 communities in Kula, such  as Belema  and Offoinama  have benefitted from  contract  awards, skills  training  and other projects by  SPDC, hinted that it has  carried  out projects on areas such as infrastructural development, health care,  education and sanitation in  Kula.
The firm further blamed the lack of full implementation of its social investment  programmes in Kula’s internal wrangling on the part of various interest groups in the area.
Meanwhile, a mammoth crowd of  aggrieved  community members  recently stormed the operational  base of OML25 in Kula  community demanding  that Shell should quit for an  indigenous firm to take over, for  failing to develop the host communities.
The protesters carried placards and chanted solidarity songs to  demonstrate  their anger over the perceived  insensitivity of SPDC  to the plight of the people.
A community leader, Mr. Mpakabuari  West, who spoke with newsmen  during the  protests, said Shell has failed the people  in the past 10  years of its operation in the  area.
“There is nothing for  Shell to show  in the area in terms  of development for the past 10 years,  the entire  host communities are disappointed in SPDC, and we  are here protesting that they should quit operation and hand over to an indigenous firm that can develop the community as a key objective.
Also speaking, the Paramount   Ruler of the community, King Bourdilon Oko, accused SPDC of  total neglect  of the host communities and called on the  management of SPDC to hand  over to a more host community friendly, indigenous firm to  alleviate the plight of the  people.

Taneh Beemene