Environment
How Shell, Oil majors neglected Ugbokodo community in Delta State for 57 years as Reps begin hearing of petition
The people of Ugbokodo community in Delta State, South-South, Nigeria have cried of neglect by the multinational Oil and Gas companies operating within the community.
In a petition which was signed by the Legal Adviser, O.J. Oghenejakpor, Esq, and two others and addressed to the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, the Community lamented that its environment has been neglected as well as the people in the last 57 years, the oil having been first explored in October, 1964.
In the petition dated 4th March, 2021, a copy of which was made available to CAPITAL POST in Abuja on Thursday, pointed out that the oil and gas companies involved in the neglect of oil producing community are: Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and their subsidiaries, Nigeria Gas Company Limited (NGC), Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited, SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company Limited and Heritage Energy Operations Limited.
Acting on the petition, the House Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Jerry Alagbaoso vowed that the Committee which opened the hearing of the petition on Thursday at the House of Representatives, would pursue the case to ensure that justice is served.
But Barrister O.J. Oghenejakpor who briefed the House Committee on the travails of the people of Ugbokodo Community said, though, the community is located at the brinks of Warri River, it is the largest land owning community hosting Oil and Gas facilties in Delta State.
According to him, the people of Ugbokodo are Okpe-Urhobo by tribe and dialect with their main traditional occupation as fishing and farming, an occupation made impossible now by oil spill which has occassioned environmental pollution and land degradation.
The petition further revealed that the plight of people worsened the more as Itsekiri community at a point interfered with the rights of Ugbokodo community for selfish reasons.
Part of the petition reads:
“Ugokodo Community shares boundary with Adjaitan an Itsekiri Community who changed their name to Egbokodo Itsekiri for the purpose of interfering with the rights of Ugbokodo Community, Ubeji and Ifie Communities also of Itsekiri tribe and Oteghele of Agbasa Kingdom respectively on the other side of the river which has a primary and secondary school built by communal effort in the 50s and 70s respectively.”
The petition averred that Ugbokodo community was the only oil producing community that is not impacted despite its contribution to the national economy which stood at 11.4%.
It said: “It is interesting to note that Ugbokodo is the only Oil producing community not impacted, but with ground oil and.gas installations (AGI) with value and contributing to the Nigerian National Economy from the popularly called “Rapele Oil Field”, from which the community contributes about 11.4% oil revenue annually to the Federal Government of Nigeria since 1964.
“It’s sad to note that both Shell and her takeovers – Seplat, NPDC and Heritage Energy Operation Service Limited, and even the State and Federal government have with impunity neglected this community over the years.”
The petitioners stressed that the Federal government owned NNPC which controls major oil installations of its subsidiaries as well as Oil companies as their joint ventures was complicit in the neglect of the community. Noting that the Nigeria Gas Limited has its Gas line through Ugbokodo Community to Escravos which has caused series of explosions, damages causing deaths in Ugbokodo Community without compensation or reparation. It stressed that Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited had caused gas flaring with its resultant pollution and deposit of black substances in the waters, houses and properties that have been adversely affected.
However, Barrister O.J. Oghenejakpor who was accompanied to the House of Representatives for a public hearing with the Chairman of Ugbokodo Community National Conference, Evang. Samuel Eseadefe Ogholemu and member of the Elders in Council, Chief (Capt) Clifford Ikpikpini, insisted on the lawmakers’ intervention towards finding solution to the 57 years neglect of oil host community without delay.
The petitioners want the lower chamber of the National Assembly to prevail on the SPDC, NODC, NNPC, Nigeria Gas Company Limited, WRPC with joint ventures of SEPLAT and Heritage Enerfy Operations Services Limited to pay and meet the demands of the Ugbokodo Community immediately.
The demands which were contained in the petition are:
“The sum of $US 500 million as compensation for the oil explosion which occurred as a result as a result of the equipment failure of the Nigeria Gas Company Limited.”
“The sum of $US 300 million for the compensation of environmental degradation, ecological destruction which affected the lifespan and wellbeing of the people of Ugokodo Community andmdesth of its members resulting from oil spillage, exploration and exploitation from 1964 till date.
“An order for SPDC, NNPC and its subsidiaries including WRPC to embark on a total cleanup of the Ugbokodo community.
“An order urging Heritage Energy Operation Company Limited to abide by the terms of the contract of Surveillance of oil facilities within Ugbokodo territory as contained in the Memorandum of Understanding and pay all outstanding debts owed to the community immediately and stop the interference of Ocean Marine Services in Ugbokodo Community.
“An order requesting SPDC, NNPC, and its subsidiaries to develop a training and employment model for indigenes of Ugbokodo community.
“An order to direct SPDC, NNPC and its subsidiaries and joint ventures to develop a robust project plan for Ugbokodo community.
“To start immediately, the building of a Civic centre and a standard International Market which Nigeria Gas Company Limited promised Ugbokodo community and for which projects, the Community had.secured a Certificate of Occupancy over the land with the complete drawing of the market done at the request of Nigeria Gas Limited, but which they have abandoned.
Speaking with CAPITAL POST, the Chairman, House Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Jerry and noted that they were committed to justice, adding that as the case progresses, the Committee would pay oversight visit to the community in due course.
The Nasarawa state Accountant General AG, Hon. Dr. Musa Ahmed Mohammed (Baraden Nasarawa), has described the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources as a critical pillar for the state’s growth and development.
Dr. Mohammed made this assertion during a congratulatory visit to the newly appointed Commissioner, Barr. Isaac Danladi, at his office on Tuesday.
Acknowledging the warm reception Barr. Danladi has received since assuming office, the Accountant General noted that the ministry has become a hub of engagement, attracting numerous stakeholders eager to collaborate with the new commissioner.
This, he said, underscores Danladi’s reputation as a grassroots mobilizer and community leader.
Expressing confidence in the commissioner’s leadership, Dr. Mohammed emphasized that effective governance now hinges on the implementation of Governor Abdullahi Sule’s ambitious budget.
He stressed the need for collaboration and broad consultations to ensure the successful execution of the administration’s development agenda.
In response, Barr. Danladi described the visit as timely and significant, viewing it as a call to action for enhanced cooperation between his ministry and the Accountant General’s office.
He reaffirmed his commitment to driving progress and working closely with all stakeholders to advance the state’s environmental and economic goals.
Environment
Oyo Govt seals industrial facility, lounge, declares state of emergency in markets, public places
The Oyo State Government has sealed an industrial facility over its incessant violation and noncompliance to Environmental regulations.
The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Architect Abdulmojeed Olawale Mogbojubola, gave the directive for the sealing of the facility, on the heels of several complaints and petitions received on the health Hazzard incured by the residents around the facility.
Reports revealed that the unhealthy fumes, emitted from Fountain Manufacturing Company Ltd, located in Oluyole, Ibadan, has caused great uproar in the area.
The Ministry had for years wadded into the matter, for amicable mediation among residents, but the facility owner had invariably failed to either respond or comply with government directives on the matter and obeying the State environmental laws.
Likewise, the Ministry sealed a popular lounge along Akala Express, Casta De Lounge, for dumping its waste on the highway median.
The Ministry also revealed that after necessary investigations, the lounge refused to patronize the government assigned waste collectors and is culpable of several environmental offences.
Oyo Govt Declares State of Emergency on Waste Disposal in Markets, Public Places
Meanwhile, the Oyo State government has declared a state of emergency on inappropriate waste disposal, in all markets and public places.
The Honourable Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Architect Abdulmojeed Olawale Mogbojubola, made this known, during a scheduled meeting with heads of markets across the State in the Ministry’s Conference room.
The Honourable Commissioner stated that the government had commenced the distribution of skip bins, to major markets in the State, affirming that the waste disposal containers would put an end to the era of indiscriminate refuse dump on road medians and unauthorized places.
He assured that the skip bins would be evenly distributed across all markets and public places.
Mogbonjubola however charged the market executives, the “Baba and Iya Lojas” to ensure proactiveness and cleanliness in the markets, to avoid preventable cases of market closure.
While narrating the efforts of the Ministry at promptly evacuating wastes, which he personally supervised, Mogbonjubola reiterated the commitment of government to end indiscriminate refuse dumps in all markets and public places.
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo has presented the sum of three billion Naira (3,000,000,000) to over 2,381 direct beneficiaries in over 170 groups from 80 communities impacted by climate change under the Community Revolving Fund of the Agro-climate Resilience in Semi-arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project in partnership with the World Bank Group.
Performing the presentation of cheques at the Government House in Lokoja on Monday, Governor Ododo said the Community Revolving Fund is in line with his administration’s commitment to ensure food security and sustainable agricultural practices in the State.
Governor Ododo who assured that the Kogi State government will continue to provide enabling environment for the success and sustenance of the ACReSAL project, noted that the effort is in furtherance of the development agenda of the state to increase the adoption of sustainable landscape management, and to strengthen the long-term framework for integrated climate resilience landscape management and effective agricultural practices across communities in the 21 local government areas in the state.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for according priority to sustainable agriculture practice and for the unwavering commitment to enhance the welfare of families in all parts of Nigeria.
The Commissioner for Environment and Ecological Management, Engineer Joseph Oluwasegun in his speech , said the Community Revolving Fund seeks to place Kogi state on the map of states where food security and sufficiency are guaranteed in Nigeria.
The Governor urged the benefiting groups and communities to utilize the fund with diligence and to demonstrate ability to ensure that other members of the community continue to benefit from the project.
Earlier in her address, the State Coordinator of AcreSal, Barrister Ladi Ahmed Jatto said the Community Revolving Fund (CRF) is an interest-free investment fund which began with the first phase of its disbursement in June 2024 with over 2,381 direct beneficiaries.
She emphasized that the second phase of the disbursement is a justification of the effective utilization of the first phase and the overall performance of the Kogi state government as adjudged by the World Bank Task Team.
She called on beneficiaries to make the best use of the fund, adding that the fund is a loan from the World Bank under guaranteed repayment by the state government.
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