Ughelli — THE eight host communities to the Abura Oil Field operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company limited, NPDC, at Udu Local Government Area of Delta State have issued a 14-day ultimatum to the company to vacate the area due to incessant oil spill.

This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a meeting of leaders of Abura Oil Field, NPDC and host communities signed by Chairmen of Emadadja, Ubogo, Ogbe-Udu, Okolor, Ekrota, Ukperheren, Obubu and Ugbisi communities as well as Owahwa community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

They lamented that the area was perpetually being impoverishment and dese-crated by the company.

It reads: "Following multiple oil spillages in the Abura Oil Field due to failure of facilities of the NPDC in Emadadja, Ubogo, Ogbe-Udu, Okolor, Ekrota, Ukperheren, Obubu Owahwa and Ugbisi communities, all in Udu and Ughelli South local government areas of Delta State as host communities, and subsequent unheeded comp-laints from the host commu-nities, we leaders of the host communities are constrained to issue a 14-day ultimatum to NPDC to vacate our land."

According to the communities, other grievances include; "non-employment of indigenes into the company, absence of empowerment programme for youths and women, non-provision of basic amenities as portable water, health care facilities, neglect of expected social and corporate responsibilities to their lost communities and non-maintenance of the facilities.

The communities said these had resulted in multiple spillages within a period of one month, describing it as arrogant display of insensitivity to the peoples plight.

"Over the years, NPDC has failed to fix the only access road to our communities. Wherever there are spillages, the company always refuse to pay and frustrate claims for compensation, we regret that over the years, the presence of NPDC has been a curse to our communities.

"We have absolutely nothing to show for the quantum of oil that had been exploited continuously from our land and so, there is no reason to justify NPDC's continued stay and operation in our land. Our marching order is pack and go.

"The Federal Government should take the Abura oil field from NPDC and give it to companies like SHELL, Chevron, Agip, Mobil etc with better track record and good sense of social corporate responsibility."