Oil-producing communities in the Olero Creek Oil Field, located in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, have threatened to halt production if the government fails to provide basic amenities and employment opportunities long demanded by residents.
The affected communities including Ebrohimi, Obaghoro, Tebu, Gbokoda, Aja-Amita, Udo, Jakpa, and several satellite settlements said they could no longer endure decades of neglect despite their vital contributions to national crude oil output.
At a joint press briefing in Warri on Saturday, community leaders described their demands as “non-negotiable.”
“These demands represent the bare minimum of justice and fairness owed to our people,” they said. “Our residents are already restless and prepared to take all necessary actions to draw the attention of the government at all levels, as well as the international community.”
Speaking on behalf of the communities, Dr. Roland Ukuesan (Field Chairman), Samson Ogboduwa (Field Secretary), and Canaan Ajagbawa (Community Leader) stressed that years of government inaction have caused avoidable suffering.
“The persistent neglect of our communities has led to deaths and widespread hardship,” they said. “Our people face serious health risks due to the lack of clean water and electricity, and the absence of these basic services continues to hamper social and economic development.”
In a jointly signed statement, the leaders lamented that their communities remain in “perpetual darkness” despite being key contributors to the state and national economy. “It is ironic that while resources extracted from our land help sustain the nation, our people are deprived of the most basic necessities, including healthcare,” they added. “Is it fair that the communities that lay the golden eggs for the state and the country continue to be treated with such disregard?”
The leaders called on the Federal Government to intervene urgently in the Olero Creek region, including dredging waterways to improve access to several communities.
They also demanded a fair employment policy prioritizing Olero indigenes and urged compliance with the Federal Government’s newly signed host-community contracting policy, which requires contractors from producing areas to be given preference.
The communities further appealed to Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to begin immediate construction of internal roads, shore protection and sand-filling projects, a housing estate, functional health centres, and the provision of potable water and electricity.
“These initiatives align with the state government’s M.O.R.E. Agenda,” they stressed, adding that the development needs of the Olero Creek communities can no longer be ignored.
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