Odagwa Women Take To The Street In Protest Against Years Of Neglect

Odagwa Women Take To The Street In Protest Against Years Of Neglect

● Accuse Shell, others of failing to provide needed facilities

By PHC Telegraph

Women from Odagwa, a mineral bearing community in Etche Local Government Area have taken to the street to protest against oil companies.

The women who turned out in large numbers Tuesday, carrying placards and chanting slogans, vowed to shutdown the operations of oil companies in the community.

Supported by their sons and daughters, the women marched through the community, singing and displaying placards, some of which read “No Road, No Production”.

Eze Odum, Ochimba of Odagwa community

They said their communi-ty which produces oil and contributes to the national revenue pool has been left without good roads, potable water and electricity.

Repeated appeals made over the years, the women claimed, have fallen on deaf ears while the oil companies as well as the Federal Government which are behind oil exploration activities smile to the bank.

The women said they will not put a stop to their street protest until their grievances are addressed by the appropriate authorities, adding that they have run out of patience as a result of the deliberate neglect of Odagwa community.

We cannot confirm if representative’s of the oil companies were in the community to talk with the women.

But we have learnt that the women say whatever negotiation the oil companies contemplate would take place within the community and nowhere else.

Odagwa’s oil and gas holdings are managed as part of Nkali and Agbada oil field and oil flow station respectively.

Several promises made by Shell have never been fulfilled while no son or daughter of the said community has ever been employed as a full-fledged staff by the oil major.

We understand that under a divestment plan, Shell has sold its shares to Nigerian oil firms that are popping up downstream.

One of them is Heirs. Heirs is reportedly controlled by Tony Elumelu, a businessman who has considerable interests in oil, banking and commerce, and his a member of Tinubu’s economic team.

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