Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Protesting Ijaw women from Okerenkoko community have shut down Jones Creek flow station operated by Neconde/NNPC Ltd in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State, demanding for provision of electricity supply in the community.
The protest, which began since Monday and continued until the time of filing this report, has seen the community women marching, singing, dancing and cooking food peacefully inside the premises of the flow station, as security men and oil workers at the facility look on.
The protesting women, numbering over a hundred inside the flow station, carry fresh leaves and placards bearing different inscriptions such as “Neconde, no light no operation,” “Neconde give us light, we are tired”, amongst others.
One of the protesting women, who identified herself as Madam Ebidiseghabofa, said the community was simply demanding that the oil company provide electricity as part of their social corporate responsibility to the host community.
Ebidiseghabofa, who spoke in Izon dialect, called on the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, and relevant authorities to prevail on Neconde to meer their demands, in order to prevent the breakdown of law and order in the area.
She said the intervention of the governor and other authorities was also necessary to prevent the protest from spreading to additional flow stations in Gbaramatu Kingdom.
She said: “Our community has been burdened by broken promises and unmet commitments from this oil company.
“We will not leave here until Neconde gives our community power supply. We are not leaving here, untill Neconde provides electricity to our community.
“We are calling on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and NNPC Ltd to call Neconde to order, so that this protest will not spread to other flow stations in Gbaramatu Kingdom.”
Meanwhile, the management of Neconde/NNPCL JV is yet to comment on the development.
