IYC expresses worry over ocean surge in Ogulagha communities, calls on FG, NDDC, others to take urgent action

By Anita Godfrey

The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, and Ogulagha Clan have expressed worry over the ocean surge rocking communities in the kingdom, particularly Obuguru, Abarabebe communities and the Ogulagha cemetery.

This was disclosed in a statement dated 17th June, 2022 by Comr. Samuel Ebiarede Uyadongha,
Chairman and Comr. Keneware Emmanuel, Information Officer.

The statement read partly, ‘It is on record that Ogulagha Kingdom in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State is a major producer of the liquid gold that feeds the entire nation.
How would communities in such a kingdom suffer heavy erosion at the risk of going extinct with no response from the government, oil companies and other critical stakeholders.”

IYC further stated, “It is a well-known fact that the Ogulagha Kingdom is a host to the popular Forcados Terminal, Ogulagha North Bank Flow Station, North Bank Gas station, South Bank Flow station, Yokiri Flow station, Beniboye Flow station, among many others with over 200 oil wells.
The kingdom is also a host to multinational oil companies such as Shell, Chevron, Agip, Brittain U, and several other contracting companies.

“We can’t give out this much and not receive in the same measure or even more. The Nigerian Government should not value the crude oil more than the people in the Niger Delta region,” they lamented.

IYC, however, frown at the obvious washing away of communities in Ogulagha kingdom by ocean tides and the silence of the government at all levels of the country.

“We hereby call on the Federal Government, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and other relevant agencies to come to our plight by constructing shore protection to safeguard our Communities from going extinction,” he added.