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Host communities of Oil Mining Lease (OML11) in Rivers and Abia states have urged the Federal Government to again engage the United Nations (UN) to conduct a fresh environmental assessment in the areas.
They expressed concern over the escalation of pollution with serious health implications in the communities for over nine years the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report was released.
The communities made the call when the Conscience of Ogoni People (COP), led by its National President, Gani Topba, visited stakeholders of OML11 in both states.
Tobpa stated that the closure of the oil field followed from the environmental issues, insisting that the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) was still taking the environmental issues and the people for granted.
He, therefore, urged the host communities of OML 11 oil field to come together and ensure that Shell leaves the area entirely.
“We urge the Federal Government to bring back UNEP to carry out a report in these other communities of OML11. I want us to work against a resumption of Shell in our area.
“You must stand and shut all Shell facilities in your land. We want the NNPC to take over 100 per cent of the oil field so that we can come back and discuss who drills our oil,” he said.
Also speaking, the monarch in Ayama Community in Oyibo Council Area of Rivers State, Chief Tochi Ogbonna, charged the Federal Government to take over the operation of OML11 and not allow Shell to operate it again.
“This is an opportunity to let the Federal Government know that we are suffering. We are calling on NNPC to take over the oil field. They should hold it and invite us for a meeting. We want to try another company and see,” he added.
Besides, a statement issued on behalf of the Traditional Rulers Council of the OML11 communities and read by Chief Morgan Ulunwa, noted: “Shell failed in its corporate social responsibility (CSR) in all the decades of exploiting our environment.
“Shell’s unsuspecting, latest obnoxious bid to regain the expired OML11 license after a long unproductive sojourn, as far as we are concerned, is a covert display of tendencies of foreign traders tenant that dwell on greed and reminiscent of the dark days of apartheid South Africa.
“We shall resist further aggressive and threatening sojourn among us. Accordingly, a committee to work out modalities to this effect is in the pipeline. We shall occupy and take over the OML11 oil fields, being our natural oil assets.”