Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Angry youths have picketed the entrance to the operational base of an oil firm, Sterling Global Oil Resources Limited in Ndoni, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers over deplorable road leading to the area.
Leader of the protest and President of Ndoni Youth Federation Mr. Chudi Egobueze, said heavy duty trucks owned by Sterling Global were destroying the Ndoni Road, by moving to and from the area every day.
Egobueze, said Sterling Global Oil Resources Limited had been operating for five years without reciprocal benefit to the communities, rather they have been made to suffer road accidents, delay in travels, as well as environmental degradation.
He also emphasized that the operations of the oil company was threatening the quality of the ongoing construction of a road awarded by Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
He said, “We are protesting against Sterling Global who has been applying our roads for the past four years now and has gotten the roads destroyed with their heavy-duty vehicles.
“If not for the fact that Governor Siminalayi Fubara in his magnanimity helped us with a new road, going to Ndoni would have been very difficult, but Sterling Global Oil Exploration Company is till applying that road with their heavy-duty trucks.
“We as Ndoni Youth Federation have come out en masse and say no to Sterling Global. We want Sterling Global to stop using Ndoni road, until we are sure the road is completed, so we can be sure the construction company is doing a good job on the road.
“Sterling Global will not apply that road until they have concluded our discussions with them,” the protesting youths said.
Meanwhile, the management of Sterling Global Oil Resources Limited is yet to react on development.
