Bayelsa community youths shut SPDC’s Clough Creek Flow Station

Youths of Agbidiama community in the Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, on Thursday, protested against the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), disrupting oil production activities at the company’s flow station around Clough Creek.

The aggrieved youths accused the SPDC of not providing employment and empowerment schemes, refusal to engage indigenous firms for catering services and neglect of the community and its leadership.

It was gathered that the rampaging youths during the protest shut down the SPDC facility as tension mounted in the area.

Mr Torke Ekpetun, President of Agbidiama Youth Council, said they were angry with SPDC and other oil-servicing companies operating in the area for allegedly abandoning their development obligations to the community.

He claimed that an allied firm, Clinthwealth Nigeria Limited, which was contracted by the SPDC to provide services at its oilfield in the area, had neglected the community youth executives since 2018, among other grievances.

Ekpetun said, “We frown at the current situation whereby host communities will bear the adverse impacts of operations of these oil companies with little or no benefit.

“We are yearning for dialogue to resolve all issues. They (SPDC and others) have refused to recognise a duly constituted youth leadership in employment matters.”

He further said it was unacceptable that the SPDC and the other firms operating in the area did not donate any palliative to the community as part of their corporate social responsibility during the COVID-19 lockdown.

When contacted, the Media Relations Manager, SPDC, Mr Bamidele Odugbesan, said the oil company valued a cordial relationship with its host communities and would not do anything to undermine it.

He said,”It is a long-standing policy of SPDC to provide opportunities for its host communities, including but not limited to community contracts, scholarships at different levels, economic empowerment programmes such as LiveWIRE, healthcare support like the Oloibiri health programme and COVID-19 equipment donations to Bayelsa and other states.

“We also have GMoU community development programme that funds community projects decided by the communities.

“As we strive for a stronger relationship with our host communities, we are open to discussions on any complaints for an amicable resolution.”