Youths of Ndokwa nation in Delta State on Thursday blocked the Kwale/Ughelli road, to protest the perceived non challant disposition of the oil companies operating in the area to the plight of the people.
The protest left travellers and other road users stranded for hours as private and commercial vehicles were forced to park on both lanes of the Federal highway.
Addressing newsmen, Comrades Bright Enuesike, who spoke on behalf of the Ndokwa east chapter of the Ndokwa Neku Union (NNU), said they had given the Federal government a two – week ultimatum to address the maginalization of Ndokwa land but that their requests were ignored.
He added that the over 15 oil companies operating in the area were taking their host communities for granted as they had refused to make their presence felt in terms of development, despite the negative impact of their operations on the environment.
Others who spoke, including Comrades Afam Ogbolu of the Ukwuani chapter of the NNU and Chukwutem Nwogo of Ikolobie Ndokwa, said their was no electricity supply in Kwale and the environs despite over 60 years of AGIP Oil operating at Okpai.
They also frowned at the non representation of the Ndokwa nation on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) despite being an oil producing area
The youths called on the relevant authorities at the state and federal levels to urgently address their requests or they would shut down the operations of oil companies in the area.
Addressing the protesters, the Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assemby, Honourable Ochor Christopher Ochor, Finance Commissioner, Sir Fidelis Tilijie and his Trade and Investment counterpart, Chika Ossai, assured them of a new dawn in Ndokwa nation, urging them to dialogue with government on the way forward.
Also speaking, Executive Assistants to the Governor on Youth Development, Innocent Esewezie and Nnamdi Ezechi, thanked the youths for the peaceful protest and urged them to continue to be law abiding.
ANIOMA STATE: Emotion, Gossip, Impulsive Reactions Notwithstanding, Nwoko’s Unruffled Demeanor Stands...