A middle aged man, Mr Okwukwu Nwokoma, from Erema community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, is demanding N100 million compensation from the French oil giant, Total E& P Nigeria Limited for endangering his building.
He told The Tide that his family house was at the verge of being eroded by a borrow pit dug by the company some years ago.
Nwokoma, a farmer, explained that the building had been there before the company dug the pit to construct a road in the area.
According to him, the pit is systematically collapsing and at present is less than three metres close to his building.
He said that the continuous collapsing of the borow pit would consume the building thereby render  his family homeless if no urgent measure was taken to remedy the situation.
Describing the situation as a very serious  threat to the lives of members of his family, Nwokoma called on Total to remedy the situation by sand filling the pit or relocate his building. In alternative to these, pay him N100 million compensation.
He further demanded for urgent fumigation of the area as, according to him, the pit had turned out to be a breeding home for mosquitoes which attack his family.
Nwokoma disclosed further that he had made several appeals to the company and the company promised to remedy the situation but regretted that no action had been taken by the company to that effect.
“ It is on this note that I am urging well meaning Nigerians to prevail on the company to do the needful before my family is rendered homeless “, he said.

By: Chris Oluoh