Aggrieved Bayelsa women from Obunagha community of Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state have protested the lingering outage in their community.
The protest is directed at Shell Petroleum Development Company, whom they claimed was insensitive to their plight.
The irate women have shut down the multi-billion naira Gbarain-Ubie gas plant owned by Shell.
Apart from shutting down operations of the oil giant, the protesting women also closed the road leading to the facility.
The presence of stern-looking security agents deployed in the area could not deter the women.
They also rebuffed the pleas of ranking officials of the state government to vacate the facility pending the resolution of the issues.
The protesters had erected canopies in the middle of the road to shelter themselves from rain, an indication that they were “dead serious” about their agitation.
It was learnt that power outage had lingered in the community, host to Shell, for more than a month.
The women were said to have been upset that as community members were suffering, Shell officials were enjoying uninterrupted supply of power.
At a news conference on Wednesday, woman leader in the community, Pereware Dadiowei, said they would not vacate the road until the issues that led to their protest were addressed.
She said, “We have been without pover for over one month and we have made several entreaties to the company to come to our aid without success.
“We were compelled to lay siege to the entrance of the company to express our grievances and for the management to have a change of heart towards our plight.”
According to her, the operations of the oil company have not been beneficial to them, adding that the health centre and water project executed by the company were not functioning.
In his comment, Vice President of the community’s youth association, Dinire Jumbo, said they could no longer bear the perpetual darkness.
Jumbo said, “As you can see, our mothers can no longer bear the perpetual darkness in our community when the occupants of the gas plant are enjoying uninterrupted power supply and all the basic needs of life.
“Sometimes the gas flaring by the oil company causes vibration in our homes and we are exposed to air borne diseases and environmental pollution. We have been responsible hosts to Shell over the years.”
He added that it would not cost the company much money to replace the damaged transformer for the community.
He urged Shell to consider the community’s friendly disposition during and after the construction of the gas facility. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
Dumb, lazy community fuckheads. Is SHELL Power Holding?
ReplyDeleteAbeg, take your grievances to the appropriate authority- SG, FG & GEJ!
This is why Multinationals are pulling out!
Ignorance is a disease. Stupid.
Totally agreed with Annoymous 7:18am....Group of lazy people that has their brother at the helm of Nation's affairs and cant provide electricity for his people, dumb people!!!
ReplyDelete