The Delta State Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Prince Emmanuel Amgbaduba has assured the people affected by Chevron Nigeria Limited oil spills in Gbaramatu Kingdom of Warri South-West Local Government Area, of the readiness of the state government to resolve the issues amicably.
Prince Amgbaduba gave the assurance at the weekend when he led other government officials to wade into the oil spills issue which has led indigenes of the affected communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom to protest at the Chevron Abiteye and Otunana stations.
The first port of call by Prince Emmanuel Amgbaduba led team was Chevron Nigeria Limited, Abiteye field, where he listened to the plights of the protesters before going to the Chevron Utunana flow station to also hear the complaints of the people there.
The Oil and Gas Commissioner was accompanied on the visits by the state Commissioner for Environment, Pastor Chris Onogba, the member representing Warri South-West Constituency at the Delta State House of Assembly, Honourable Emomotimi Guwor and the Warri South-West Council chairman, Hon Taiye Tuoyo, amongst others.
Prince Amgbaduba after listening to people said that the Delta State Government is very interested in resolving the issue hence the high powered delegation was assigned to come to meet with the people.
He told the protesters that he will write to the state government for relief materials and drugs to be sent to the affected communities.
The ministry according to him will call for a meeting where all the affected community leaders, management of Chevron Nigeria Limited and relevant government officials will sit and discuss ways of preventing such occurrence as well as address the demands of the affected oil-producing communities.
For his part, the Commissioner for Environment, Pastor Chris Onogba debunked the rumour making the round that a report by the ministry of environment indicated that there were no oil spills, adding that he has come and seen for himself the degree of oil spills.
In the same vein, the member representing Warri South-West Constituency, Honourable Emomotimi Guwor, who addressed his people in both Ijaw and English languages appealed to them to go home with the assurance that the matter would be addressed.
Speaking on behalf of the oil spills affected communities, Comrade Pedro Bekenawei and others said that the oil spills have affected the ecosystem of the area as well as its aquatic life.
They alleged that Chevron Nigeria Limited has not been sensitive to their host communities in terms of job empowerment, and refusal to effectively carry out its cooperate social responsibility.
With the intervention by the Delta State Government, these protesters who have occupied Chevron facilities for two days earnestly await to see the clean up of the oil spills and serious attention given to their other demands.
