Urhobo community laments inability to benefit from Nigeria’s oil, gas facilities

The Urhobo Ethnicity Nationality Oil and Gas Producing Communities (UROGAN) in the Delta Central Senatorial District, Delta State, has appealed to the National Assembly for urgent intervention by the federal and state governments to address their inability to benefit from the nation’s oil and gas facilities in Nigeria.

In a statement, UROGAN National Chairman, Christopher Ominimini, lamented that the Urhobo people have been taken for granted, shortchanged, and marginalized.

He particularly cited the case of Agbarha Warri, Okere Urhobo kingdoms of Warri South LGA, Uduophori and Odorubu communities that contribute significantly to Nigeria’s coffers and economy through substantial oil and gas production without corresponding development.

Ominimini also mentioned the unlawful counting and ceding of Urhobo oil and gas facilities to Edo State at Mosogar and Idjerhe (Jesse) Kingdoms and the unlawful transfer of Ukpokiti Community’s facilities in Agbarha Warri Kingdom to Omadino in Itsekiri.

“In the verified compilation, one can see the enormous contributions of the Urhobo nation through these active oil and gas producing wells of over 350, over 15 flow stations, and over 20 gas flare sites.

“One can now see very clearly the reason why the lifespan of the Urhobo people at home has been shortened and crippled with many diseases emanating from the polluted air and ecosystem.

“In spite of these injustices, UROGAN is involved in the peaceful advocacy for the uninterrupted free flow of oil in the oil-bearing communities while canvassing for proper development of the people and the communities of our ethnic nation.

“In fact, we do not have a corresponding positive impact from the amnesty office. We are considered not part of it. This is bad as our sons who disarmed in the amnesty phase 2 and 3 programs are treated like slaves compared to their counterparts from other ethnic nationalities.

“At NNPC and in all the oil strategic business units, namely, NPDC, NUPRC, NPIMS, NMDPRA, WRPCL, PHRCL, KRPCL, PPMC, and DESOPADEC, we do not have Urhobos in any enviable office. Instead, casualization has become the portion of our people.

“This is very unfair and unjust to the Urhobo Nation. The Ministry of Niger Delta has two skill acquisition centers in Delta South Senatorial District, one in Delta North Senatorial District, and zero in Delta Central Senatorial District. This is another injustice against us.”

“Today, the implementation of the local content act does not include the Urhobo people in the oil and gas critical sector. We do not even know whether its implementation exists.

“The sale of the oil and gas facilities in our areas by the IOCs to other investors without giving us the right of first refusal to buy or not is the second colonization of our people after the British who left in 1960.

“The Urhobo hereby demand for Liquified Natural Gas companies to be sited at Ughelli North and Sapele local government areas of Delta State.

“We as a people will not allow such acts of deprivation to deter us from practicing our age-long traditional values of nationhood. The federal and state governments should, as a matter of urgency, look into this in the interest of federal character, justice, and equity,” Ominimini stated.