Simon Ebegbulem
26 March 2009
YOUTHS from Ndokwa in Delta State have accused Agip Oil Company operating in their domain of alleged dumping of harmful toxic waste in their communities and insensitivity to the under-development programme of their host communities.Therefore, they issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Italian oil giant to remove all their equipment and leave their domain or face the wrath of the youths of the area.
In an address delivered by the President of the Ndokwa Youth Leaders Assembly (NYLA), Comrade Chukwuma Sheriff, made available to Vanguard in Benin City , the youths said that rather than develop the region, the oil company had afflicted the people with diseases, even though the federal government's approved site for the dumping of toxic waste is located in Calabar.
According to the address, "the oil giant has not added positively to the development, economically or otherwise of Ndokwa communities. Therefore, we call on all our youths to protest against this injustice and marginalization meted upon our people and land by our enemy, Agip oil company.
"If after the expiration of this ultimatum they still persist to stay in our land, we shall not hesitate to reward them according to their own coin".
The youths further lamented that the Ndokwa nation had been marginalized, both by the state and federal governments, in spite of its huge human and natural resources, pointing out that the youths of the area were under-employed in the Delta state Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) and urged the commission to reverse the situation.
"While we the Ndukwa youths are protesting the under-employment of our youths in DESOPADEC, the leadership of the commission had awarded the construction of a Modula refinery in other communities, leaving only Ndokwa nation out, another sign of marginalization and injustice on our people.
"The Modula refinery, at its completion, will be another source of employment to the host communities and also facilitate community development by international investors involved in the projects, but Ndokwa youths will be left to their fate" the youths contended.
They appealed to the leadership of DESOPADEC to reverse its God-forsaken policy of the Modula Refinery or they will be forced to protest en-mass to the commission.
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