SPDC Laments Protesters’ Blockade Of Access Gates

The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) has lamented the continued blockade of its two main gates at the Industrial and Residential Areas in Rivers State.
While the Industrial Area is located at Rumuobiakani, the Residential Area is located at Rumuibekwe, both in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
A statement signed by the Media Relations Manager, Bamidele Odugbesan, yesterday, said that all pleas for the protesters to see reason and bark down have failed.
The statement reads, “A group of persons who claim to be representing Great Minds Foundation of People Living with Deformities (Niger Delta), arrived the main access gates to our Port Harcourt Industrial Area and Residential Area on January 20, 2021, impeding access, and they have remained there until the time of issuing this statement.
“The group presented a letter, dated January 15, 2021, demanding from SPDC a total sum of N567million for the ‘empowerment’ of its members.
“All pleas to them to vacate our access gates and embrace dialogue failed as they presented another request for N20million as a condition to demobilise their members.
“We have shown the group evidence of the many programmes in support of people with special needs both within the Niger Delta and the wider Nigeria. They form a key part of our social investment programmes for vulnerable groups in our communities.
“We believe in dialogue and would advise the group to embrace non-disruptive approach in soliciting support. We are also asking the group to vacate our access gates and premises and desist from threatening and harassing our staff”.