Jimitota Onoyume
12 March 2012, Sweetcrude, PORT HARCOURT — The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) have been asked to vacate Egbema West community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State due to alleged pollution of the area by their operations.
Handing down the order, the people of the community said the operations of the firms had resulted in the death of more than 40 persons in the community.
Speaking through the Chairman of its Community Relations Committee, Mr. Steve Aliba, the community said since Shell resumed operations in the area in 1961, it had not contributed to the growth and development of the area.
He said the community resolved that the oil company and NPDC, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) should pay N200 billion as compensation for damages and pollutions traced to their operations.
The spokesman of the community, flanked by some members of his community, while briefing newsmen, weekend, in Port Harcourt, said a recent explosion close to the Orashi River destroyed aquatic lives and farm lands.
