Ilaje coastal communities ask Buhari not to politicize GRIP

The people of Ilaje, under the aegis of Concerned Ilaje Coastal Communities Trustees (CICCT) in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, have advised President Muhammadu Buhari not to politicize or divert the Gas Revolution Industrial Park Project (GRIP) also known as EPZ from their land.

In a communique signed by Prince Abayomi Ogunfemi, Honourable Akin Ojamani, and Mr Adewale Adesuyi, Chairman, Secretary and Public Relations Officer respectively on behalf of their people, want the Federal Government to commence the immediate take off of Okerenkoko dockyard, Omadino/Escravos road project, Koko Ogheye road project, Electrification of Escravos Communities, inclusion of Gbaramatu, Itsekiri and Ilaje sons and daughters into the 57 marginal oil field bidding.”

They warned that failure for Federal Government to comply and heed to their advise will amount to the shutdown of all oil production activities in their domain.

The communique reads: “we will be left with no option than to join hands with our other stakeholders to execute same as this God-given mineral/natural resources cannot and/or not be diverted out of the area but to meet it’s original purpose for the area which is EPZ project.”

“We hereby advise the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with all honesty and unalloyed influence to urgently adhere to the recent publications, published by the Ijaws in Gbaramatu Kingdom and Itsekiri Oil Producing Communities in order to avert crisis and/or shutting down of oil production activities in the Escravos area.”

While noting that the three stakeholders in the referred publications had been at war with themselves years back, the Ilaje people said, “the situation is different now as we have resolved all our differences in order to allow peace and harmonious existence among us, so as to foster development in our area.

“We have on our own part cautioned our people and the two other stakeholders to stay clear of greed and sentiments.

“Furthermore, Your Excellency; it is pertinent to state that these three stakeholders have suffered and are still suffering from ecological defects and/or effects arising from the operations of the multinational companies thereby making our area an hazardous zone.

“Your Excellency, the huge benefit of these gigantic projects is that it would provide employment opportunities to the sons and daughters of all the three(3) stakeholders involved thereby fostering peace, harmony and unity among us, as well as all Nigerians at large.”