Imiringi community is one of the main communities in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State, Niger Delta, Nigeria. And, the community has been host to the Gas Turbine procured by the Old Rivers State Government, of late Chief Melford Okilo’s administration. Even before the gas turbine came into the scene, the community has been host to the Shell Petroleum Development Company [SPDC] for years, in terms of oil/gas wells, manifolds, pipelines and flowstation which; gas is being flared routinely 24/7. The community is contributing enormously to the revenue generation of Nigeria and, by extension; Bayelsa State and Ogbia local government area in terms of oil and gas sourced/removed from the immediate environment. As a direct result of oil industry operations in the environment, the people of the community have suffered and continuing to suffered related pollution: from gas flare, oil spills, drilling fluids/cuttings and other wastes dumped in the environment. However, it would be false statement if anyone should say the community is receiving desired and deserved attention from any of the three tiers of government: Federal State and Local. And, this is the crux of the matter, even though several communities are sharing this ugly experience of alienation and neglect. When the Youths of Niger Delta react violently, it is not because it is their nature to be restive; the resource exploiters and unjust administrators of revenue allocation are the very ones failing to recognize that fact that elasticity has limits and that when folks are pushed to the wall, they should be expected to bounce back. Five years after the collapse of this bridge and at a time when donations were made by well meaning Nigerians to assist the State Government, also when the revenue stream into the state was better; what explanation would justify this neglect? When will this paradox cease?
Imiringi community is one of the main communities in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State, Niger Delta, Nigeria. And, the community has been host to the Gas Turbine procured by the Old Rivers State Government, of late Chief Melford Okilo’s administration. Even before the gas turbine came into the scene, the community has been host to the Shell Petroleum Development Company [SPDC] for years, in terms of oil/gas wells, manifolds, pipelines and flowstation which; gas is being flared routinely 24/7. The community is contributing enormously to the revenue generation of Nigeria and, by extension; Bayelsa State and Ogbia local government area in terms of oil and gas sourced/removed from the immediate environment. As a direct result of oil industry operations in the environment, the people of the community have suffered and continuing to suffered related pollution: from gas flare, oil spills, drilling fluids/cuttings and other wastes dumped in the environment.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it would be false statement if anyone should say the community is receiving desired and deserved attention from any of the three tiers of government: Federal State and Local. And, this is the crux of the matter, even though several communities are sharing this ugly experience of alienation and neglect.
When the Youths of Niger Delta react violently, it is not because it is their nature to be restive; the resource exploiters and unjust administrators of revenue allocation are the very ones failing to recognize that fact that elasticity has limits and that when folks are pushed to the wall, they should be expected to bounce back.
Five years after the collapse of this bridge and at a time when donations were made by well meaning Nigerians to assist the State Government, also when the revenue stream into the state was better; what explanation would justify this neglect? When will this paradox cease?