Few days after heated protest over alleged neglect by community members of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Nigeria operated cluster communities of Kolo Creek Oil field in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, the oil firm has restored electricity supply to the four communities of Otuasega, Elebele, Oruma (Yiba-Ama), and Imiringi.
It would be recalled that the four communities, midweek shut down the manifold owned and operated by the multinational company over alleged neglect of their communities.
The Tide further reports that earlier during the protest, the firm’s logistics base in the same area and adjoining facilities were also barricaded by the protesting youths, midweek.
Though the protest was conducted peacefully, the visibly angry members of the communities noted that after exhausting all negotiation avenues to call the firm to order, there was no other option but taking to the streets to demonstrate their anger and frustration due to what they believed to be the company’s intentional neglect on the plight of their communities.
Speaking with newsmen during the protest, the Chairman, Action Committee on the Restoration of Power Supply to the Kolo Creek Cluster Communities, who also doubles as the Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman, Elebele Community, Mr. Okala Precious, said they were angry over the failure of the oil company to restore electricity supply to the area despite several meetings, explaining that the protest was carried out as a last resort to draw attention to their plight, following several talks.
“We’re a peace-loving people and in as much as we want our country, state and local government to survive, we’ll always give peace a chance.
“Why we’re out today was due to SPDC’s nonchalant attitude towards our plights after a meeting we had with them under the invitation of the State Government in which the company was given a three-day final ultimatum after the expiration of an initial two weeks and several other ultimatums. That last meeting was held on 14th May, 2024.
“What we’re demanding isn’t too much for the SPDC to do for our communities. After all, they cannot compare the amount of resources they extract from our land to the light we’re demanding from them.
“Even the rationing aspect they came up with, we’re not seeing. The two generating sets they installed are totally down. All that the four communities are asking is for them to restore power. Let it not be as if Shell base enjoys uninterrupted power supply while our communities are in darkness. The government and the law enforcement agencies are aware that this protest is peaceful.
“The manifold and rig located at Otuasega have been shut down and the major location at Imiringi is also shut down. We know very well that by the time Shell compares and contrasts their loss and what they are supposed to give to us, their loss will be much greater.
“So, they should cooperate with us. We’re demanding that a 10 megawatt generating plant or a mini gas turbine that will better serve the Kolo Creek Cluster communities be installed”, he said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman, CDC, Otuasega Community, Mr Nyamono Sydney Ezuzua, said that since 1973 the multinational company commenced exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in the communities, there has not been commensurate human capital and infrastructural development in the area.
Ezuzu noted that the near perennial blackout in the communities upon the breakdown of the recently installed power plant (now maintained) in the area has worsened their living conditions and economic woes.
Earlier, Ezuzu said: “SPDC has not done anything tangible for the host communities of Otuasega, Elebele, Imiringi and Oruma (Yiba-Ama) since it began operations in this area in 1973.
“They don’t give us jobs, no infrastructure, no water, no good roads. And now they’ve denied us electricity, the only thing we’re proud of as host communities.
“We’ll protest peacefully until they attend to our plights. We want power restored to our communities. And until that’s done we’ll not stop protesting. That’s because before this protest, we met with this company and gave them multiple ultimatums to at least treat us well, but they’re adamant”.

Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa