PRESS STATEMENT BY POLOBUBO (TSEKELEWU) COMMUNITY, WARRI NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, DELTA STATE IN COMMEMORATION OF WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY/MONTH – ONLY ONE EARTH, ONE HOMELAND POLUBUBO (TSEKELEWU)

Posted on June 26, 2022 by polobubocommunity

A PRESS STATEMENT BY POLOBUBO (TSEKELEWU) COMMUNITY,
WARRI NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, DELTA STATE IN COMMEMORATION OF WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY/MONTH AT BB HOTEL, DECO ROAD, WARRI, DELTA STATE, NIGERIA
JUNE 15, 2022


Gentlemen of the Press, Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the good people of Polobubo (Tsekelewu) Community of Egbema kingdom, Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State, I welcome you to this press conference on the World Environment Day commemoration by Polobubo (Tsekelewu) community.

As the world commemorates World Environment Day in June 2022 with the theme ” Only One Earth” which emphasizes the dire environmental crisis facing humanity, we wish to urgently draw the attention of Chevron Nigeria Limited, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Nigeria Petroleum Development Company/Elcrest Nigeria limited JV (NPDC/ElCrest), Conoil Producing Nigeria Limited, Sahara Energy Services Limited, the Federal Government of Nigeria, Delta State Government, and the World to the human and environmental crisis facing our only homeland Polobubo (Tsekelewu).

Polobubo, originally a fresh water environment with fresh water ecosystems has been replaced by salt water environment due to the exploration and exploitation of crude oil by companies operating in Polobubo/Tsekelewu community and sister communities. It will interest you to know that Polobubo (Tsekelewu) community is host to Chevron Nigeria Limited, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Nigeria Petroleum Development Company/Elcrest Nigeria limited JV (NPDC/ElCrest), Conoil Producing Nigeria Limited and Sahara Energy Services Limited.

These companies have contributed to the devastation, pollution and destruction of our ecosystems and brought Polobubo (Tsekelewu) community to its pitiable environmental condition.

Negative Impact of Operations of Oil Companies on Polobubo (Tsekelewu) Environment

  1. Chevron Nigeria Ltd in 1980s, constructed a Western Bypass Canal in order to bring in its equipment through the Atlantic Ocean for the construction of the Opuekeba Production Platform which led to the introduction of saline water into the natural fresh water and the destruction of the natural fresh water ecosystem in Polobubo community. Our fathers protested the Western Bypass Canal construction in the 1980s. They were molested and detained in Akure, Ondo state by Security Operatives. Several of our youth have also been killed by Security Operatives attached to the oil companies when they protested violations of our rights and the destruction of our environment over the years. Due to the construction of the Western Bypass Canal by Chevron Nigeria Limited, over time, a siltation of the waterways around our community occurred, leading to mud sludge and siltation of the Oloduwa River leading to Polobubo community and other water bodies. The Polobubo waterways used to be 9 fathoms deep up to the 1970s, providing us abundant sustenance with a rich marine life and life sustaining fresh water. Polobubo was known for its rich variety of fauna including antelopes, crocodiles, alligators and manatees which we call “torufaowei’, and big fishes such as the “Ebah” or “governor” fish among others. We used to sell bush meat and catfish at Warri, Sapele and other towns which are no more.
    Our environment contained a variety of huge economic trees including hard woods, abura, azonia, black and white Afara, cotton wood and mangrove forests from which we built our homes and carve canoes. All these have been destroyed and the fauna killed or driven away by years of dynamite used during seismic operations, oil spills, gas flaring at the Opuekeba Production Platform, dredging of Opuekeba Production Platform wells slots without dredging the Polobubo (Tsekelewu) main creek.
    The consequence is the complete alteration of what used to be thick tropical forest, to open grassland for the entire area as you will find in savannah zones. What used to be thick tropical forest in Polobubo community has been altered to open grassland for miles around.

The pollution of the ecosystem by the recent fire incident at the Chevron Nigeria Limited Ojumole/Ikpalakpalabu crude oil well #1 that occurred on April 18, 2019 and ended on June 30, 2019 (which lasted for 73 days), are some of the acts of ecocide visited on Polobubo community by Chevron Nigeria Limited for the oil and gas resources in our land and waterways.

Till date, there has not been any remediation of the environment, payment of fair and adequate compensation in cash or projects to Polobubo community by Chevron Nigeria Limited.

We have not slept on our rights and will continue to agitate until remediation of the Polobubo (Tsekelewu) environment and fair and adequate compensation is paid to Polobubo community.

  1. The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) dredging through Polobubo community to Opuba crude oil production well #1 and #2, crude oil spills, gas flaring and pollution among others contributed to the deforestation, and pollution of the land and air in Polobubo Community.
  2. The Nigeria Petroleum Development Company and ElCrest Nigeria limited JV (NPDC/ElCrest) dredging of sections of the waterways to their crude oil wells made Polobubo/Tsekelewu section of the Oloduwa creek to dry up, incessant oil spills due to equipment failure and continuous gas flaring at Opuama Flowstation.
    The continuous gas flaring at Opuama Flowstation, ongoing dredging and drilling operations without environmental impact assessment (EIA) and environmental remediation plan has negatively impacted Polobubo (Tsekelewu) community.
    4) The Conoil Producing Nigeria Limited ongoing dredging and drilling operations without environment impact assessment (EIA) and agreed environmental remediation plan with Polobubo (Tsekelewu) community has over reaching negative impact on Polobubo community.

Our demands
Cleaning, remediation and reparation of the environment should be executed for Polobubo community by the federal government of Nigeria, Delta State government, SPDC, Chevron Nigeria Limited, NPDC/ElCrest JV and Conoil Producing Nigeria Limited as stated in the 2022 Nigeria Petroleum Industry Act, section 101(2, 3) by 2023.
Land reclamation and shoreline protection projects should be executed for Polobubo community by the federal government of Nigeria, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Delta State government before 2024.


Canalization and dredging of Opuama-Tsekelewu Creeks by the federal government, Chevron Nigeria Limited and NPDC/ElCrest JV before 2024. Chevron Nigeria Limited should add the sweeping/dredging of Polobobu (Tsekelewu) creek to its three (3) years Opuekeba Production Platform well head slots sweeping/dredging programs and execute same in the next Well Heads Slot Sweeping/Dredging Campaign in 2023 and beyond.


Pay fair and adequate compensation due to siltation, seasonal flooding, salt water intrusion, loss of vegetation, loss of sources of livelihood, reduction in biodiversity, and outbreak of water borne/impounded diseases caused by devastation, pollution and destruction of our ecosystems by SPDC, Chevron Nigeria Limited and NPDC/ElCrest JV before 2024.


Execute sustainable development projects such as internal road networks, housing units, and electricity amongst others for Polobubo community by federal government, Delta State government, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Conoil Nigeria Limited and NPDC/ElCrest JV by 2023.
Special budgetary allocation should be made by the federal government, Delta state government and oil companies for environmental remediation and afforestation programs in Polobubo in 2023 and beyond.


The Federal Ministry of Environment and Delta State Ministry of Environment should make special visits and investigations to Polobubo (Tsekelewu) community to see things for themselves in 2023.


The immediate blockade of the Western Bypass Canal that linked Polobubo community to the Atlantic Ocean by Chevron Nigeria Limited and the federal ministry of works before December 2025.


Provision of portable drinking water and medical/health facilities & services by federal government, Chevron Nigeria Limited and NPDC/ElCrest JV, and Conoil Producing Nigeria Limited before December 2023.


In the interim, NPDC/ElCrest JV and Conoil should provide free routine medical outreach services to Polobubo communities before end of 2023. Long term solution is the provision of a standard health facility well equipped with staff for Polobubo (Tsekelewu).


Zero natural gas flare or vent into the Polobubo environment to prevent pollution and/or execute environmental remediation and relief to Polobubo community (as per the 2022 Nigeria Petroleum Industry Act, section 104 (4) by Chevron Nigeria Limited and NPDC/ElCrest JV, and Conoil Producing Nigeria Limited before December 2023.


Put in place a flora regeneration policy and fauna reproduction policy within one year (2023) by the federal government of Nigeria and Delta State government and the oil and gas companies operating in Tsekelewu communities.


Institute Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project that will collaborate with Niger Delta Development commission (NDDC), Delta state Government, Amnesty office of the Presidency and companies operating within the community to develop a robust empowerment programs for the youths and women in the community.

Thank you.
Dr. (Engr.) Bright Abulu, PhD
President-General, Polobubo (Tsekelewu) Community Development Association
 

Revd. TD. Clement (JP), General Secretary, Polobubo (Tsekelewu) Community Development Association

Mr. Christmas Ukugha- Public Relation Officer- Polobubo (Tsekelewu) Community Development Association

CC
His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria.


Minister of State Petroleum, Federal Republic of Nigeria


The Minister of Environment, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Abuja


The Chairman, NASS Committee on the Environment.


The Chairman/MD – Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulation Commission (NUPRC)


Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa- The Executive Governor, Delta State, Asaba.


The Commissioner, Ministry of Environment, Delta State, Asaba.


The Chairman- Delta State House of Assembly, Committee on the Environment.


The Head, United Nations Environmental Programme, UNEP, Abuja.

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Icon – A great Man

Posted on March 3, 2021 by polobubocommunity

The entire people of Egbema kingdom and those from far and near celebrated the life and legacy of a great icon and leader Late Chief Robert Ayeno Pablogba (The Miyenkirigbolomowei of Egbema Kingdom) the father of all Ijaw people especially those in Sapele town, who slept in the Lord on Wednesday 27th January 2021.


He lived a fulfilled life and slept in the Lord at a full age of 95. He will be greatly missed by his family and the entire Egbema community


Adieu Daddy we thank God for the number of days and how you positively impacted the lives of those that came in contact with you.

Late High Chief Robert Ayeno Pablogba (JP)

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A Blessing turned Curse – Oil Exploration in OML 40

Posted on April 26, 2017 by polobubocommunity

Pause and imagine, the predicament of the people residing within the OML40 communities in the Niger Deta. If this is your community – where a private company (registered in Aberdeen Scotland) with five years tax exemption in Nigeria – daily operating and damaging the environment and socio-economic of the people who reside in this region.

Eland Oil & Gas can not operate like this in any part of the United Kingdom without any corporate social responsibility to the people within the community they operate. They can not behave recklessly and arbitrarily without any consequences from the UK government. They are required to operate in a transparent and responsible manner with a clear business code of conduct and agreeable obligations to the UK government, local council and communities.

In the Niger Delta region and Nigeria, they can get away with anything – they are actively and passively subjugating the people and milking the people natural resources daily without any corporate and social responsibility to the people in these communities.

It is beyond shocking that Eland Oil & Gas and their cohorts do not pay their fair share of taxes either in Nigeria or United Kingdom. The damage caused by Shell Royal Dutch (Shell Nigeria) for over thirty-five years of operation and Eland Oil & Gas (Elcrest) to the people socio-economic and environment within the OML40 communities due to their aggressive oil exploration operations is unexplainable!

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This is my village where my ancestors and parents calls HOME!

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Go and find out how much the so called company “give back” to the communities where they operate. If Eland Oil & Gas and their various JVs are honouring the MoU they signed with the communities. Instead, they have adopted the “divide and rule” mechanism to subjugate, abuse the people and shut down any voice protesting about the predicament befalling the people and environment within the OML40 communities.

This is a place where Eland Oil & Gas and their JV called Elcrest with the so called Sir Emeka Offor making thousands and millions of dollars daily and monthly.

Ironically, in these communities the kids, youths, women and men are struggling daily to survive – their livelihood daily destroyed, no form of meaningful employment, unemployment over the roof and old & young engulfed with illness without any form of medical facilities. The so called State and Federal government has failed the people. #SavePOLOBUBO #SaveOPUAMA #SaveEGBEMA #SaveOML40

Do the calculations yourself – daily x $50 per barrel = No Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)!

Shell Royal Dutch Company came operated for over 35 years and left the place much more worst. Now it is Eland Oil & Gas Plc operating with these cohorts – Emeka Offor, George Maxwell & Co living large! Below the latest operational update report from the company posted in London Stock Exchange (LSE).

~~~~~~~~~

Eland Oil & Gas PLC (AIM: ELA), an oil & gas development and exploration company operating in West Africa with an initial focus on Nigeria, is pleased to announce the following operational and funding update.

Opuama is currently producing approximately 8,000 barrels of oil per day (“BOPD”), from the Opuama-3 well only, with export through shipping ongoing. Since the Company’s last announcement, approximately 120,000 barrels of oil have been delivered to the export terminal, with a further circa 40,000 to be injected imminently. Monetisation of this crude is expected to be in the region of $8.5million in the coming weeks.

The previously announced borrowing base review of the Company’s Reserves Based Lending facility is complete and has resulted in a borrowing base amount confirmed at $24million. The redetermination was based on the production performance of Opuama-1 and Opuama-3, shipping export route and outlook.

The Company expects to commence the side-track of Opuama-7 well by the end of H1 2017. Approximately a further $7million of capex is required for the completion of the Opuama-7 side-track, which is expected to add a further 6,000 gross barrels of production from OML 40. Following the successful side-track of Opuama-7, the Company will look to include this significant increase in production in its borrowing base and expects the headroom to increase accordingly to allow for further development funding for OML 40.

The Company has a current cash balance of $7.5million of which, pursuant to the borrowing base redetermination, $0.8million is restricted to cover debt service.

George Maxwell, CEO of Eland, commented:

“The successful borrowing base review with our bank, Standard Chartered, ensures we are funded for our upcoming work programme at Opuama-7 which we expect to commence in the near term. Weare targeting bringing Opuama field’s gross production from Opuama-1, 3 and 7 up to 17,500 barrels of oil a day by early H2 2017.

“There is real momentum in the business as we focus on growing our production sharply and I look forward to updating all stakeholders on our drilling activities at Opuama-7 in the future.”

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The Ordeal of the People of Gbaramatu Kingdom

Posted on June 10, 2016 by polobubocommunity

The people of Gbaramatu recount ordeal carried out by the Nigeria Army which should protect them. The Nigeria Amry invaded the community killed, raped, molested, brutalise the people in Gbaramatu community. We stand with the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom to unequivocal condemn the actions of the Nigeria Army – those responsible for these barbaric acts in Gbaramatu community will one day pay for their actions. 
The suffering and harassment of the people of Niger Delta region need to stop. Justice can’t be achieve in an atmosphere of intimidation and brutality. We are calling on the top leadership of the Nigeria Army and Minister of Defence to call on those Army assigned to the area to respect the human rights of the people of the region.

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Adieu Our Governor General Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha

Posted on April 9, 2016 by polobubocommunity

  

Today, as people across Nigeria and outside both family, friends and foes bidding farewell to the late Governor General of Izon Nation Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha in his home town Amassoma in Bayelsa State. We join them likewise to bid this man who history and generations to come will remember – his life and story shall be spoken about in the market places, village squares, cities and countries (near and afar). 

As true blood Izon tribe sons and daughters, we want to join our voice to admonish the current Izon leaders and those coming behind the ranks that whatever you do, ensure (intrinsic) it is about human beings (lives) development and improvement. Don’t be sidetracked by the vanity of this life – don’t be disheartened when the wicked prosper – surely their end is destruction. We are aware there are many commentators will have a thing or two to say about this Izon Icon but this we know posterity is fair to all – his legacies shall speak either good or bad. 

We are reminded of this Psalm by King David “what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” Psalms 8:4-9 ESV

We hope he made peace with his Creator and people. Adieu and Rest In Peace our Governor General Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha 16 November 1952 – 10 October 2015. 

May Spirit of God comfort those he left behind!  

Signed by 

Inebraye Aboh – Founder Polobubo Community.Org

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Polobubo Serenity 

Posted on February 16, 2016 by polobubocommunity

These pictures captures the serenity of Polobubo. A place of peace and quietness for everyone to enjoy and be proud of. 

Today, Polobubo struggles with oil and gas pollution both water and air in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. 

We long for the day when Polobubo will come back to her true state for the dear people of Egbema kingdom. 

Long live Polobubo! Long live the people of Polobubo in Egbema kingdom. 

Thanks Bailade P Tiemo for the pictures. 

  
    
   

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Secrets of my strength at 90 – Chief Robert Pablogba, retired school teacher – A True Polobubo Son

Posted on January 18, 2016 by polobubocommunity

  

Chief Robert Ayeno Pablogba has lived a very interesting and eventful life. He is still exceptionally strong and virile at about 90 years and still struts with a youthful swagger and engages in activities that defies his age. Shortly before his 90th birthday, he sat down with S’South Regional Editor, Shola O’Neil and spoke about his growing up in the village, his journey from youth, late education, teaching career and the wisdom of managing a polygamous family. 

On growing up and the influence of Baptist missionaries. I was born in the village of Tsekelewu (Polobubo) about November 1927 to the Pablogba Okito Royal family of Olodiama, Warri North Local Government Area of today’s Delta state. I grew up with the tradition and custom of the Ijaw. We were so disciplined that our movement was restricted to the village and mostly in the compound. Our interactions were with different family members in the town of Polobubo. I did not know anything about education.

We were able to get into the limelight of education when Nigerian Baptist Convention’s missionaries got to our village in 1938 and established a church at Tsekelewu (Polobubo). It was then that I came in contact with Rev. Omatsola and others, who taught us how to read and write and we were able to study the Bible.

As we grew up, we came to understand that it is good to be educated. We were a little bit bigger than the school age but since it was a rural area, there was no age limit. At that time primary school period was eight (8) years – Infant 1 and 2, then Standard 1 to 6. Because our village school stopped at Standard 4, we moved down to Sapele and then to Baptist School Aragba Gbekoba in 1947. I finished class 6 in 1948 (at the age of 21).

How I became a school teacher
I couldn’t have become a teacher (after Standard 6). That was the time Urhobo College, Effurun was started in 1948. I did and passed the exam but on getting to my parents at home, they had no money to sponsor me to secondary school. The alternative was to go to a teachers’ training and I was employed as a teacher by the Nigerian Baptist Convention. I started teaching in Tsekelewu Baptist School in 1949. I taught for two years and went to Baptist Elementary Teachers College in Benin City, did my Grade 3 Course and finished in December 1953.
After the course, I was posted to Tsekelewu, where I taught for three years and later as the Headmaster of the school. In 1959, I was posted out of Tsekelewu to Ero-Abraka. I was Headmaster there for one year and later posted to Owerri Baptist School.
But because there was lack of teachers in my village – non native teachers were finding it difficult to stay there – I was called back to the village. I taught there till 1965, when I went to Delta Teachers Training between January 1966 and 1967. I got my Grade 2 Teachers’ Certificate and was later deployed to Ogharafe Baptist School, where I taught for two years as Headmaster. Then, there was a complaint by teachers in the rural areas that teachers in the townships ought to be changed. For those of us who were in the township for many years, it was automatic for us to leave for rural areas. I was posted to Okwagbe Baptist School, which I headed for one year. Then those teachers in the rural areas, who had been complaining, found it difficult to stay in the township and they protested again.
I was sent back to First Baptist School, Sapele in 1971 as one of the senior teachers. But there was need to further my education in order to enhance my pay. I went for an ACE course in Benin (1978 to 1979) to do Diploma. I was posted as one of the foundation teachers of Oriapele Grammar School (Sapele). Rupi was the Principal at that time and I was the Vice Principal. I was there for four years.

Retired, but not tired. My incursion into politics. After 35 years as a teacher, it was incumbent on me to retire. So I was retired in 1984. Since I was still young, able and willing to work, I got an appointment as a Customary Court Member in Warri Area Customary Court in October 1988. We had two members, the central man, a trained lawyer, was president, and two others, including me. We were there until 1999 when the military gave up power. Politicians came and those of us who worked during the military era were relieved of our offices. So I joined politics.
In Egbema clan, where I come from, I was one of the leaders who were elected. Sadly, if you are not in the ruling party, you are looked upon at as an enemy. But not minding that, we pushed ahead to see that the clan is in a good shape today in Warri North Local Government Area, where we have two principal tribes, the Itsekiris and Ijaws. Our struggle as one ward in the beginning has grown up to nine wards. We are seeing the progress and other things that are coming up.
I think our community has been developed, our community is one of the communities that produce oil in Delta State which helped us into DESOPADEC and others and we have another global which is formed by two Ijaw communities; the Gbaramatu and Egbema axis that has brought development to the communities. Our boys have been employed to work there for a given number of years, either two or three years and later change them.

Looking back, what’s your assessment of education today, and the future?

If you look at the education we had then and now, there is a lot of difference because the standard of education is getting lower and lower. In our days, when you were able to complete Standard Six, you are equivalent to some graduates now. Now, some people see teaching as a means of livelihood, but other people like us who are very interested in educating others, educating our children, we took it as a full time job and we taught them to progress and go higher.

The approach right now is that if you get to some rural areas, there are no benches, no building. Teachers find it difficult to go to the rural areas, saying they want to stay in the town. In the rural area, there are classrooms of six or more and you can only get one or two teachers who will go there because they want to survive. Many are rushing to the township to dwell, even when there is no job.

What can be done to reverse the trend

Government has a lot to do. If you look at subjects like History, in the higher school, it is not there. If you don’t learn history, how will you know the origin of your people? There are so many subjects that are overlooked and those are the subjects that gave us the background to develop up to this level.
Government must pay attention to infrastructure. You see pupils or students sitting on the floor, if the environment is not conducive, how do you think learning will progress? We need very good environment and teachers in the rural areas need adequate attention, better pay and other incentives, to do the job right. Government need to improve the quality of teachers and give them advance courses to grow.
Parents on their part must care more; they should not allow the teachers to do it alone. Some parents do not have that zeal and appetite to give their children proper care. Parents, especially those in the township, are engaged in their businesses or professional pursuits. Some mothers do not even bath their children in the morning before they go to school. The child eats whatever they see and go to school. So the encouragement must start from the parents.

Secrets to a happy, peaceful polygamous home?
The secret of my strength and youthfulness even at 90 is God. I had three wives; the third one died around 2002 and the two wives you just saw. God has blessed us with 13 children. My grandchildren are over 40 and my great grandchildren are about six. Keeping the harmony in a polygamous home is difficult. Even a man who has a single wife has some problem compared to a polygamous home. It is a very difficult thing, which you must balance up by doing to A as you did to B. Like the children, if you decide to send two or three to the university from one family, same thing should apply to the other family. If not you will have no rest. The idea was to train those at the fore-front and if they successfully graduate, they would take care of their younger ones.

Whether you are a monogamous man or polygamist, the extended family must be there. The extended family in the African tradition cannot be waved away. You have to bring them together and mix them up because you cannot cater for only your children; the family members will call you a witch, if you do that. That is the African way.
I have been fortunate to have trained some members of my extended family who have become a blessing to me. This house you are seeing, my nephew (Mr Edmond Doyah-Tiemo) built it for me and he has been taking care of me. He is a blessing to me and I am very grateful for that.
In my family there are some don’ts. I started to tell my children that everybody must go to secondary school and go higher. I wanted all my children to be graduates but it was not possible. I had over sixty percent (60%) who are graduates. Our children should strive to improve and meet up with the tide.

Life is not easy you, there must be ups and downs. Most youths nowadays want to do white collar job (Oyibo work). To the young ones, I say ‘let’s do something with our hands.’ Learn handwork that will make you to survive. Now, you cannot get graduates who are willing to farm. They feel the education they got is for work in the office and using biro.
Our young ones also want to be rich at all cost. You see a boy of 20, 30 years saying he wants to be a millionaire without work and doing unlawful things like bunkering, blowing up pipelines; but that will not take you anywhere. The only thing that can take you somewhere is learning handwork and not undermining anything. Government empowerment is not there because they will say we are going to empower but how many people shall we empower?

Thanks to the South South Regional Editor of the The Nation Online.Net, Shola O’Neil.

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No More Abuse & Degradation | Polobubo Community Fighting Back…

Posted on August 27, 2015 by polobubocommunity

Polobubo (Tsekelewu) community is one of the ten Ijaw communities that made up the Egbema clan in Warri North, Delta State. It is situated in a boundary between Delta and Ondo state and is blessed with abundant deposits of crude oil within its environment. It is host to Chevron and Shell Petroleum Development Company since the 1970s. Apart from several oil wells and pipelines crisscrossing the environment, Shell’s Opuama Flow Station and Chevron’s Opuekeba Flow station that flare gas are located in the community environment. A third oil company, Sahara Energy has also concluded an Environmental Impact Assessment [EIA] with a view to operate at Polobubo (Tsekelewu) Marginal Field.
ERA’s attention was recently drawn to the plight of Polobubo (Tsekelewu) people, as they have been forced to contend with the adverse impacts of canals constructed from the Atlantic Ocean by Shell and Chevron to access their oil facilities. These canals that were constructed in the early 1980s have adversely affected the ecosystem, poisoning water and vegetation and by extension, livelihoods.

ERA monitor gathered that the Oloduwa Creek [the only access to the community], which used to be pure has now been polluted as the people can no longer drink from it any more. The people’s fishing activity has been so affected just like logging activities. These developments prompted ERA’s visit to the community 17th of January, 2011. ERA’s field monitors were led by an indigene, Mid-West E.K [Esq]. 

Mr. Ebilate Mac-Yoroki:

“The situation in my community is not just pathetic, it is really critical. It all started as a result of the canals constructed by Chevron and Shell from the Atlantic Ocean. Our people used to drink directly from the Oloduwa Creek, because it was a fresh water environment. Before the canals that brought in salt water to destroy our environment, we had a sustainable environment; we supplied fish to other communities, tap palm wine from the raffia trees that were everywhere around us and also engaged in lots of logging activities. Then too, we used to have manatee in the creek because it was deep enough. The negative environmental and social impacts of the canals are enormous. The present scenario is that, we now have plants that are alien to us; which serves no economic purpose to my people when compared to the rich vegetation that existed before the canalization by the companies.

The fresh water environment has been completely destroyed by the salt water from the Atlantic Ocean; replacing same with brackish water and related vegetation. Besides, we can no longer access our community with even building materials in larger boats. I must confess, the situation has caused the people of Polobubo (Tsekelewu) so much hardship. You will also notice that our people are now going miles away to fetch drinking water [with canoe] from the facilities of the oil companies. And, for how long must we continue to suffer this? We seek both social and environmental justice. We gradually becoming a landlocked and sinking community, hence we want Chevron to block and refill the canal and save us from a situation whereby we have to be forced to leave our ancestral home, but God forbid this…..”

Chief Wilson Yoroki:

“Our environment was rich in biodiversity. All that is now history as I speak with you. We have lost our raffia palm forest. When we were young we used to tap palm wine from the raffia trees that abound in the community environment. And you know these raffia palm grows in fresh water swamps alone. But when the salt water was introduced through the construction of the canals from the Atlantic Ocean, it turned our once fresh water brackish and wiped out all the raffia palms and other economic trees in the community. Again, we used to supply fish to Sapele in those days because we were doing well in that activity but right now, my people are buying ice fish from Sapele. Our livelihood has been destroyed. And this is one of the reasons why most of our youths are leaving the community and going to the city in search of other means of livelihood; leaving the older folks behind.”

Chief Wilson:

“…..Following our cries, the Niger Delta Development Commission [NDDC] awarded contract in 2004 to a company to dredge the Creek and save us from the hardship we experience, but the company did very little or nothing and disappeared. We took the matter on with NDDC and the company concerned. Up till now the matter is still in court; we have spent so much money borrowed outside the community. It is as bad as that. NDDC told us that about 35 per cent of the dredging was done. But we were surprised how they calculated 35 per cent and, from where or what?”

Mid-West E.K [Esq]:

“….Our fathers actually opposed the canalization project of Chevron and Shell. But, the companies brought in Mobile Police to intimidate, beat and arrest them. They took our fathers to Ondo state where they were detained and made to go through harrowing experiences. That was how they silenced our voice and have subsequently forced us to suffer untold hardship and denial of livelihood. This is our plight.”

Observation/conclusion:

ERA monitor observed that the negative impacts of the canalization in Polobubo (Tsekelewu) Community has caused grave economic, social and environmental hardships and is now beyond the capacity of the people to solve.

ERA’s field monitors observed that, apart from the shallow Creek which affected the engine of the speedboat that was used during the field trip, large expanse of impacted land is now lying waste, with little or no trees in the environment, when compared to other communities. 

Indigenes were noticed returning conveying drums of water on canoe [from the oil company facilities away from the community], a very tasking activity for both men and women. The community is also in dire need of development as there is nothing to show for the oil wealth derived from the community environment. Some women and children were seen engaging in fishing activities.

ERA demands:

1. The Federal and State governments compel Chevron and Shell take prompt steps to remediate the environment and compensate the people.

2. Chevron and Shell provide alternative source of drinking water for the community.

3. Shell and Chevron dialogue with the community to avoid violent conflicts as a result of their (oil companies) actions which have created problems for community folks.

4. The community seek legal redress to make Shell and Chevron accountable for their plight.

Join the campaign #savePOLOBUBO #saveTSEKELEWU #saveOPUAMA on Twitter as we stand against Les Blair, Emeka Offor & their cohorts still abusing our people and degrading our environment each day. 

Let us not forget to campaign and calling the IOCs Shell & Chevron to give account of their over 30 years operation in our community and environment. 

Thanks to http://julietteabandokwe.blogspot.co.uk 

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How NOSDRA, NPDC, Officials Short-Change Oil Communities

Posted on October 26, 2014 by polobubocommunity

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This story by Emma Arubi from Vanguard Nigeria news clearly captures the deplorable state and fate of the communities in OML40. The environment pollution, degradation and health hazard to the Polobubo/Opuama community can’t be described unless you go there – assess and hear the suffering of the people!

The #savePOLOBUBO #saveOPUAMA campaign objective is to campaign against the wickedness, expose and challenge the incompetence, ineptitude, corruption by these oil operators/companies such as Shell Nigeria – very soon Shell Nigeria will account for their retrospectively actions against the people and environment of OML 40.

The current oil operators in OML 40 are Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) and Elcrest E&P Nigeria Limited – is a joint venture by (eLand Oil & Gas Limited UK registered and based company) and Starcrest Energy Nigeria Limited owned by Emeka Offor are taking the people of OML 40 communities for granted and showing no ethical and moral obligations to the people and communities development – they think it is business as usual without any form of engagement with the host communities in OML 40.

Mr Eyitemi Brown-Dibofun is spot on by his remarks…“there is an unholy alliance between NOSDRA and the oil operators in Nigeria to further underdeveloped the Niger Delta region”. He accused both NOSDRA and the NPDC of many vices ranging from incompetence, ineptitude, corruption, collusion, divide and rule tactics in any impacted community and even using armed men to intimidate, humiliate and torture community leaders..”

We are calling on eLand Oil & Gas Limited management team and investors to be aware that it won’t be business as usual in OML 40 – we the people of Polobubo/Opuama community will hold them accountable and responsible! It isn’t just moral and ethical for businesses to engage positively with the host communities they operate but it make good business and investment sense!

25 October 2014, Warri — OIL spills are a common phenomenon in the Niger Delta region. It could be caused by a third party interference popularly referred to as sabotage or equipment failure, a euphemism for failed pipes caused by either old age or the usage of sub-standard pipes whose integrity is too weak to withstand the continuous and permanent inflow of crude oil and gas.

When these spills occur, it causes severe environmental pollution, degradation and health hazards to the communities and people. So it behooves on the relevant government authorities to take immediate remedial and urgent steps to curtail its spread and limit the negative impact on both domestic and aquatic life.

Continue reading →

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A Typical Day……Polobubo/Opuama Community

Posted on October 15, 2014 by polobubocommunity

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This is how the people of Polobubo/Opuama transport water (basic necessity) from the Chevron platform to their homes.

Can you imagine how the old, frail and disable people in the community who can’t make the water journey – survival?

It is easy for the oil companies to come to OML 40 communities drill oil wells but unable to drill water wells for the people of the community for their use!

Shell spent over thirty years without any provision of drinking water for the people of the OML 40 communities.

Today, eLand Oil and Gas with joint venture Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) operating the OML 40 wells with the prospect to drill more oil wells without engaging with the host communities – no clear and comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

A typical day in Polobubo/Opuama – is this moral and ethical?

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Join the campaign #savePOLOBUBO #saveOPUAMA – the people of Polobubo/Opuama deserves to be treated with dignity and respect!

 

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