- Our woes caused by oil exploration activities
- Ask Chevron Nigeria Limited to do the needful
- Calls on NDDC to re-award the sand filling contract
The indigenes of Benikrukru community in Gbaramatu Kingdom, has called on the Delta State Governor, His Excellency, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, other oil companies operating within the community to save them from incessant floods.
Speaking with GbaramatuVoice who went on a fact finding visit to the community, the residents bemoaned their situation which they described as an annual occurrence that leaves in its trail unquantifiable degree of destruction of properties and valuables.
Comr. Solomon Eris Odu, a community leader and an environmentalist while speaking to GbaramatuVoice stated that the incessant flood has a way of making the river overflow its banks thereby getting the community submerged.
He stressed that the cause of this flooding which is causing a serious menace to the community may not be unconnected with the oil exploration and its related activities going on in the region.
While conducting our correspondents around the community, the environmentalist pointed out that their landscape is gradually being submerged by the sea thereby posing a grave threat to their lives.
The former Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the community and other indigenes that spoke to our correspondents condemned the inaction of the oil exploration giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited.
The community pointed out that Chevron Nigeria Limited has been the greatest beneficiary of oil exploration within the community but has shown no sign of concern to their plight.
He further questioned the corporate social responsibility (CSR) that Chevron Nigeria Limited prides itself as the leader within the industry adding that they are still expecting CNL and other oil exploration majors operating within the community and environs to do the needful.
While calling for the direct intervention of the Delta State Governor, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, the community leader further requested that the Governor should quickly assist the community in reaching out to the other relief and development agencies the world over.
However, the community leader recalled that a sand filling project of the community was initiated in 2014 by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC but was later abandoned.
He therefore, appealed to the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, under the leadership of the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Nsima Ekere, to ensure that the abandoned sand filling project is re-awarded and executed speedily to prevent floods from taking over and eroding the community.
The community is therefore, calling on the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, other international relief agencies worldwide as well as the Federal Government to help provide victims of the flood with relief materials to ameliorate their sad state and the perilous condition they are presently in.
“Finally, we are hereby looking forward in anticipation to speedily address this grave issue at hand”, Mr. Odu told GbaramatuVoice.
Support Quality Journalism in the Niger Delta Region
Join us in our mission to bring development journalism, cultural preservation, and environmental awareness to the forefront. Your contribution makes a difference in the lives of the people of the Niger Delta. Donate today and be a part of the change!
