Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The People of Idu-Obosiukwu community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, have lamented high rate of hunger and deaths, as a result of water and air pollution caused by activities of oil multinationals in the area
A community leader in Idu-Obosiukwu, Chief Clinton Usi, regretted that activities of oil multinationals particularly, the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC, have continued to destroy their livelihoods.
Usi disclosed that the rivers and streams in the community are polluted with crude oil and crops do not germinate anymore, due to pollution.
He said the community lacks employment opportunities, infrastructure and empowerment, adding that Agip has failed to sign a memorandum of understanding with the community.
“For years Agip has not been doing well for Idu-Obosiukwu community. Agip is a company that If you don’t carryout a protest, they will not listen. Sometimes they will pretend to listen and will not still implement your demands.
“The GMoU they are not following it. We have followed it up to make Agip signed it, but up till today, they have refused to sign it.”
The community leader also called on the Rivers State government to assist them in ensuring that they do not continue to suffer in the bad condition which oil exploration has kept them.
“What we want to do is to write the government and inform them of our situation. We have three multinationals operating here. We have primary and secondary schools, but it is only TotalEnergies that is taking care of it.
“As for the other two multinationals (Agip and Shell), there is no form of employment, no empowerment, no nothing. No person from the community has been employed.”
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