The Opoti/Akaliwari families in Akumoni-Okordia Community in Yenagoa Local Government of Bayelsa, have appealed to Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to construct a road linking the community with SPDC facilities.
King Ezi Alubiri, a former ruler of the community, stated this on Monday, during a meeting with Mr Morris Alagoa, Deputy Director, Environmental Defender’s Network/Technical Adviser to Governor Duoye Diri on Environment.
According to Alubiri, the community is appealing for the road under Shell’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
He also appealed to the Bayelsa government to persuade Shell to construct the road through Okordia rather than passing through communities in Rivers to Shell location for easy communication.
He said: “In the 1970s, when Ubie Oil Well 10 was discovered, we were under Rivers, but now we are in Bayelsa, Yenagoa LGA, we want shell to construct road that will pass through our community to their location.
“We have written several letters to Shell, Commissioner for Environment, the Bayelsa Government, Commissioner for Oil and Gas and Natural Resources and the Yenagoa LGA Chairman.
“We are inviting Shell to a meeting with us to see our grievances, and our benefits that should be given to us.
According to him, not everyone in the community is happy about the development and we do not want any crisis.
“Shell has to sit with us, we are equally calling on Bayelsa government to call shell to order and let them do the right thing,” he said.
Mr Jacob Bunata, another member of Akaliwari family, said that since the oil well was in Bayelsa community, but Rivers community was the one benefiting more from Shell because the road to the location is closer to them.
He appealed to Bayelsa governor to direct Shell to do the needful for the sake of peace.
Alagoa said he came to hear and give them the platform to express themselves to the government since their complaints were genuine.
He said that since the community had expressed themselves by writing letters to government and Shell, we fill that shell and government should respond to them.
“Now that we are still looking at the Bayelsa Oil and Environmental Commission Report, talking about how polluted Bayelsa environment have been.
“We want to ensure that any other thing that will further pollute our environment is prevented,” he said. (NAN)
