Lucky Omas
11 April 2018, Sweetcrude, Warri — The President General of Uvwie kingdom in the Effurun Local Government Area of Delta state , Chief Austin Ukuwrere has flayed the pollution of Ekpan and Effurun areas allegedly from gas flared by the Warri Refining and Petrochemical company, WRPC and the Nigerian Gas Company, NGC, threatening that residents of the areas would mobilise to shut down activities of the firms if steps were not taken to redress the environmental challenge.
The President General, Chief Ukuwrere in a statement in Warri said that available medical records allegedly from Ekpan General hospitals revealed that eighty persons admitted in hospitals from the area for various ailments were largely caused by pollution from the activities of the oil firms.
He said they had written several letters to the companies to come for a meeting on how to redress the health challenges but they were ignored.
“We have written several letters seeking audience with the management of these companies but they have turned deaf ears to our appeal for dialogue with us to find solutions to this health hazard caused by their operations in our community.
“We cannot continue to fold our hands and watch our people being subjected to series of health challenges due to the operations of these companies and the management seems not bothered. So we have decided to impress it on them the way we consider very appropriate to register our protest.
“May be the managements are thinking we are going to adopt the old method of protest where indigenes would just come and block their gates to protest while they are working inside but they are making a mistake.
“This time around, we intend to take our protest to the next level where their operations would be crippled till we get their attention to come to a round table and discuss how to address the health hazard their operation is causing our people,” said.
