Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, SPDC, at weekend, announced that it was currently engaging communities in Bayelsa State, playing host to her Estuaries Area oilfields for a peaceful resolution, following disagreements on GMoU funds.
This is as the EA oilfields communities in Bayelsa State, had last Wednesday, issued 21days ultimatum to the Dutch oil firm, threatening to shutdown the company’s operations over demands for a review of the annual GMoU funds from $1million to $10 million and other social obligations.
The communities, 12 in number, which are in Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw LGAs in Bayelsa State, under Shell’s four Cluster Development Boards namely, Iduwini, Mein, Kou, and Bassan, had also demanded the payment of outstanding $14 million anchorage fees for vessels deployed by SPDC.
The communities speaking through the Community Development Chairman of Ekeni, Mr Wuka Brisibe, said the anchorage fees which accrued from 2006 till date, must be offset within the next 21 days or they will be compelled to stage a protest at Shell’s EA oilfields in Bayelsa.
They also alleged that the Dutch oil multinational has been marginalising the host communities, despite their hospitable and peaceful nature.
Meanwhile, the management of SPDC has disclosed that it was currently dialoguing with the leadership of the EA oilfields host communities in Bayelsa State, for amicably resolutions.
A spokesperson for the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, Mr. Michael Adande, reacting to the issues raised by the EA communities, assured of peaceful resolutions.
“We are engaging the leadership of the communities for a peaceful resolution of the issues raised,” SPDC said.
