The Ijaw Youth Council in Ogulagha Clan, ha sent out a Save Our Soul message to the Nigerian federal government to save its communities from going into extinction.
The youth group also extended its call to the Niger Delta Development Commission, asking the agency to help avert annual erosion effects across communities in the kingdom.
In a statement signed by Comrades Samuel Uyadonghan and Emmanuel Keneware, Chairman and Information Officer respectively, the IYC decried that communities in the oil bearing kingdom were being abandoned to suffer.
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Highlighting the huge contribution the communities make to the nation’s economic growth, the group posited for the government and all relevant agencies, including the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency, NIMASA, to rescue the communities from washing away.
The statement reads in full;
“The Ogulagha structure of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, has watched with dismay the rapid wearing away of communities In the Kingdom (particularly Obuguru, Abarabebe communities and the Ogulagha cementary ) as a result of the surging ocean tides.
“It is on record that Ogulagha Kingdom in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State is a major producers of the liquid gold that feeds the entire nation.
“How would communities in such a kingdom that are oil producing communities, suffer heavy erosion and at the risk of extinction yet to receive response from the government?
“It is a well known fact that Ogulagha Kingdom is a host to the popular Forcados Terminal Ogulagha, North Bank Flowstation, North Bank Gas station, South Bank Flowstation, Yokiri Flowstation, Beniboye Flowstation, among many others with over 200 oil wells.
“The kingdom is also a host to multinational oil companies such as Shell, Chevron, Agip, Brittina U, and several other contracting companies.
“We can’t give out this much and not receive in same measure or even more.
“The Nigerian Government should not value the crude oil more than the people whose land it is being produce.
“We frown at the obvious wearing away of our communities by erosion caused by the ocean tides and the silence of the government.
“We here by call on the federal government, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and other relevant agencies to come to our plight by constructing shore protection to safeguard our Communities from being eroded by the surging ocean tides.”
