Leadership (Abuja)

Accessed at: http://allafrica.com/stories/200801150231.html 

15 January 2008
Posted to the web 15 January 2008

By: Edward Ukpebitere

Hundreds of youths yesterday shut down the operations of the Warri Refinery, heightening fears that the refinery may not pump crude as expected to the Kaduna Refinery.

This was as a result of the breakdown of talks between youths of the refinery's host communities.

Scores of aggrieved Itsekiris from three oil-producing communities in Warri South Local Council area of Delta State yesterday chased out workers of the Warri Refining and Petro-chemical Company (WRPC) in their area, insisting that the management must pay them N1.7 billion approved for clean-up contract.

The protesters from Ifie Kporo, Aja-Etan and Ijala-Ikenren communities barricaded the major entrance leading to the company premises and prevented workers from having access to their respective offices.

According to a statement signed by Dr Bruce Menekpo and Wallace Tosan Wumi, secretary and treasurer respectively, the people condemned the NNPC's refusal to approve and pay adequate compensation for the July 3, 2007 oil spills and the cancellation of the contract awarded by the Obasanjo administration for the clean-up of the oil impacted areas.

"Since their operation started thirty years ago, there have been negative effects on the host communities, occasioned by perpetual oil spills in our creeks, leading to complete destruction of our land, eco-system and means of livelihood," said the embittered people, lamenting that the scourge has led to serious famine in the three communities.

They lamented that the NNPC management is insensitive to their worsening plight, regretting that their operation has not only brought woes to the communities, but has also brought neglect and pains to the people.

The aggrieved people want an acceptable and workable formula to accommodate the indigenous contractors' interest and a planned yearly developmental scheme for the host communities.