BEVERLY HILLS, September 17, (THEWILL) – Members of Agbidiama Community Youth Council, host of Opukushi, Tunu and Clough Creek Flow-stations in Ekeremo Local Government Area in Bayelsa State have disrupted activities at the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) owned and operated Opukushi flow-station in the state.
Torke Ekpetun, Youth President of the aggrieved Ekeremor community youths said shortly after the action on Thursday that the youths were yearning for dialogue to resolve its faceoff with the operator of the facility.
He explained that the protest was carried out as a result of the refusal of the oil service companies operating in the area to meet their development obligations to the communities.
Ekpetun, said that the obligations include provision of employment and empowerment of community folks, engagement of a non indigenous firm by Shell for catering services and neglect of community leaders by the management of the company.
He also listed the failure to recognize the leadership of youth as the duly constituted authority for employment in the area and other matters connected with oil and gas operations.
Ekpetun also berated the neglect of the welfare and wellbeing of the youth executives since 2018 by Clinthwealth Nigeria Limited, an oil servicing company servicing the facility.
He accused the company of maltreatment of workers on site, failure to pay community workers end of contract bonus as provided for in the employment contract.
He also said that refusal of the oil servicing firm retained to work at the oilfields by SPDC to implement workers annual salary increment at the end of every work circle was worrisome.
According to the Youth President, the refusal of SPDC and other firms operating in the area to donate palliatives as part of their corporate social responsibilities during the COVID-19, lockdown was regrettable.
However, when contacted for comments on the matter, SPDC’s Media Relation Manager, Mr Bamidele Odugbesan said the company was evaluating the situation and would respond later.
