Following the recent misunderstanding between members of oil producing Ojobo community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State and their host, Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC at the Benisede Flow Station in Bayelsa State over disagreement that led to its closure recently, the Governor of Delta State has resolved the lingering impasse.
The Governor who was ably represented by the commissioner of oil and gas, Chief Emman Amgbaduba had earlier called for a meeting at the Government Annex, Warri few days ago where both parties where invited to shiet their swords for peace to reign but the meeting ended in fiasco.
However, still committed in ensuring that peace returns to the Benisede Flow Station and members of Ojobo community, the commisioner also called for another meeting in Warri which ultimately yielded positive result.
It would be recalled that after the extensive deliberation between members of Ojobo and SPDC officials presided over Chief Emman Ambgaduba, commisioner for Oil and Gas, Delta State yesterday, the community had agreed to cease fire for work to begin at the flow station today.
Meanwhile, before the agreement was reached for the flow station to operate, SPDC had agreed to grant the demands of the community that ranges from electrification of Ojobo (Gas Turbine), sense of belonging, release of GMoU funds, rejuvenation of abandoned projects as well as other issues of social inclusion.
While hinting The Liberator Newspaper, Ambgaduba said “Work is expected to resume today at the Benisede flow station operated by SPDC, which was shut down for 8 days following the host community’s disagreement on a number of issues with their tenant.”
The state governor further directed that the legal teams of the community, SPDC and other parties should meet with a legal team of Delta state government on the 6th of January, 2020 to ensure quick release of the GMOU funds since it was being hindered by legal proceedings.
He also directed that while the process for the community interdependence electricfication project is on, a generating plant to cater for the electricity needs of the community be made available in the interim.
Meanwhile, a source who was in attendance in the meeting but would not want his name to be mentioned in print stated that all the issues raised were addressed and peace has returned to Ojobo and her host, SPDC.
The meeting was attended by the member representing Burutu constituency II and chairman, house committee on Oil and Gas, Delta state House of Assembly, Hon Pullah Ekpotuayerin, Permanent Secretary of the ministry of Oil and Gas, Mrs G. Puegeren, other government officials and representatives of Ojobo community.
