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INSIDE AFRICA
Isoko Youths seize Shell Oil flow station Special to USAfrica The Newspaper www.usafricaonline.com Youths of Isoko North and South local government areas of Delta State, on Wednesday, seized five oil flow-stations belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company (SDPC). The flow stations located in Otomoro, Egini, Oweh, Uzere (East and West), and Oroni communities, have a combined capacity to produce over 40,000 barrels of oil per day. Chairman of Isoko Community Oil Producing Forum (ICOPROF), Chief Godswill Edegware, said in a statement in Warri yesterday that the flow-stations were shut down because of the "nonchalant of Shell to issues bordering on the development of Isoko communities. According to him, such issues include employment, training, contract awards and community development projects. He said the most disheartening aspect of it, was Shell's failure to keep to its promise to Isoko Development Union (IDU) to complete its Secretariat at Oleh, equipping and furnishing of the State's University law library, Oleh Campus, and the construction of Imede, Igbide, Enwhe roads, to link Patani and Port Harcourt. It was reliably gathered that an emergency meeting was held between Shell community liaison officers and members of the communities and that during the meeting, a resolution, urging the youths to vacate the flow-stations was adopted. However, the Isoko National Youths Movement in a statement, made available to newsmen in Warri said they struck because they could no longer sit back and watch the marginalization of Isoko people by successive governments of Nigeria "and their multinational collaborators." The youths alleged that their land had been devastated by oil exploration and that they are already consulting with the elders on the next line of action. When reporters visited Shell office in Warri, sources said efforts were being made by all concerned to ensure that the situation did not deteriorate. External relations Manger of Shell's western division, Mr. Albert Aranabi said the Company had held a meeting with the state government on how to resolve the issue. The State Administrator, Navy Cdr. Walter Feghabo has, however, warned the youths to vacate the flow-stations, saying their action amounted to sabotage. The crises in the oil rich region of Nigeria seems to escalate everyday. The situation however receives very little coverage. It is quite obvious that the players in that field are out to under play the yearnings of the natives.
*Special to USAfrica The Newspaper
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