Total E& P (Nig) Ltd, must have bitten more than they can chew as their action of Diversionary Drilling operations is now threatening the Egi Town in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA of Rivers State.
The farmland of their host community is now depleted with erupted oil and gas substances with has polluted air and environment. The ecological system destroyed with all living things in danger of the hazards.
To avert the looming crisis, the Executive General Manager of the company, Engr. Vincent Nnadi, called a meeting of the host community and the company for a round table talk. The event took place at Titi “Ikpe Resort” hotel, Obite under heavy security.
Chief (Hon.) Oris U. Onyiri, president Egi Peoples Assembly, led his people to the meeting while His Majesty, Eze Kingdom Elenwa, paramount Ruler of Egi kingdom led the royal fathers.
At the end of the tension soaked meeting, the community was able to extract some conditions from the company.
They were asked to ensure remedial measures for the people within one week. This includes relief materials, medical attention, standby fire service vehicle and ambulance in case of emergency.
Meanwhile the community asked the oil company to put a stop to the explosion first while contacting experts to ascertain the long term effect on the land and its environs.
The media men were conducted on a facility tour of the affected areas. The Obite community development committee chairman, Chief Azikiwe Aliamadu and Eze Obite, Chief John Ejah disclosed that the gas-like substance with vapour mixed with watery mud and oil were oozing out from various points of their farmland said to belong mainly to Obite town, Egita and Obiyebe communities.
In the affected bushes and farmlands, there were sign posts alerting visitors of inherent dangers.
HRH Eze Zion Nwabueze Omekwe, Eze Ochioha II of Obiyebe, Ogbaland, Elder Simeon Uchendu, Obite Elite Chairman and Sir, Chief Shedrack Orikoha all said the action of the oil company was nothing less than stealing, an action they said is condemnable by all.
According to them, “Diversionary Drilling has long been banned in the country, blaming the deplorable development on bad leadership.
They called on all stakeholders to ensure that the offenders are adequately punished and as well made to compensate the people adequately. ###
Joe Kalu
