The activities of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Kolo Creek Logistic office were brought to a halt following a protest by  four aggrieved communities in Ogbia local government, Bayelsa State against the Dutch giant oil firm over alleged failure to implement an agreement reached with communities  12 years ago.

The Tide gathered that the protest was the second time the communities will be carrying out such action in less than two weeks against the company. The  protesters  who came from Oruma,Otuasega,Imiringi and Elebele  forced themselves into the fenced premises of the company and locked all the valves of  the  manifold located along Imiringi-Otuasega road.

During the  protest, they threatened that the oil firm will not know peace until the agreement was implemented . The   locked valves  reportedly  stopped the flow of crude oil to the various terminals. Operatives of the Joint Military Taskforce(JTF)    guarding the facility were orderly, as they  controlled  the situation to ensure that the protest remained  peaceful as the communities made their demands.

The  protesters who besieged the company’s office as early as 7am paralysed the social and economic activities around the site of the company. They also demanded for the removal of the Community Liaison Officer of SPDC,Tunde Joel over alleged non-challant attitude and insensitivily to their plights. It would be recalled that the aggrieved communities staged a peaceful protest against the oil company on July 7, where they conveyed a mock coffin  to the area.

The Tide was reliably  informed  that at the end of the protest, SPDC promised to look into their grievances,but,the promises were allegedly not fulfilled. One of the leaders of the protesters and Vice Chairman of  Imiringi Community Development Committee(CDC) Pastor Ranami Afagha , said that the agreement  indicated that the company would provide electricity to its host communities  whenever there is such facility in its base.

“We shut down the manifold because Shell failed to honour our round table discussions since three months ago. This protest will continue as long as Shell continues to take our oil and failing to respect agreements reached with us.” In his own contribution, CDC Chairman of Oruma community, Clifford Igburu, regretted the  manner in which SPDC was treating the communities ,alleging that the firm was more interested in dividing the people. Igburu lamented that rather than addressing the protesters demand Shell was going round trying to buy over some of our traditional rulers.

But this cannot work. When the company is serious, we shall know, for now Shell is not serious. Let them react positively to our demand that the agreement reached with us be implemented.”

In the same vein,Field Co-ordinator of the Environmental Rights Action(ERA) in Bayelsa State,Alagoa Morris,told our correspondent that  the people of the Niger Delta were getting more aware of their rights.  ”Shell should address the protesters on the spot, rather than going round to apply divide and rule tactics The communities should maintain their peaceful disposition as they go about their demand.

The JTF should equally remain disciplined and avoid violence against protesters,” the ERA official submitted. In a reaction ,Spokesman of SPDC, Port Harcourt,Precious Okolobo, said that  the  Kolo Creek field logistics base has been supplying electricity to Elebele, Imiringi and Otuasega communities in line with an agreement reached in 1999.

“However, these communities have since expanded and the demand for power has exceeded the installed capacity. As an alternative, SPDC facilitated the hook-up of the communities to the Bayelsa Electricity Supply Board (BESB) grid, and also supplies gas to the BESB gas turbine at Imiringi.

The communities have been enjoying stable power from the facility, but it is understood that the plant is currently undergoing major refurbishment,Okolobo explained. ”We continue to implement development projects in the area. The Kolo Creek Cluster Development Board was inaugurated in 2007 as part of the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) agreed for execution of the Gbaran-Ubie Integrated Oil and Gas Project.

A total of N535mln was disbursed to the Board between 2006 – 2010 for the implementation of projects, including civic centres, accommodation quarters for teachers and youth corps members, drainage systems, internal roads, electricity hook-up and guest houses. ” The SPDC official said the company  was  in the process of engaging the protesting youths ,who have tampered with its  installations in such a manner that poses serious threat to people and the environment.