Calling upon President Bola Tinubu, representatives of the Olu of Warri have urged for a declaration of a state of emergency in Itsekiri oil-producing communities. This plea stems from the perceived marginalization and neglect by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its Joint Venture partners.
At a world press conference in Warri, Delta State, Prince Collins Edema, a representative of the monarch, highlighted the need for action concerning the treatment of the Itsekiri nation by the NNPCL and its JV partners.
Expressing grievances, Edema emphasized that despite possessing well-qualified graduates, the Itsekiris were disproportionately disadvantaged in terms of employment opportunities. He appealed for NNPCL’s intervention to rectify the imbalance in contract awards, alongside advocating for the relocation of Chevron’s headquarters to either Warri or Escravos to foster community and industry confidence.
Edema raised concerns about the environmental degradation resulting from over six decades of oil exploration in their land, including issues such as gas flaring, pollution of water sources and aquatic life, and the lack of basic amenities like clean water. He criticized the inadequate corporate social responsibility efforts by NNPCL and its partners towards the Itsekiri people.
Citing instances of discrimination in employment practices, Edema pointed out that despite being well-educated, the Itsekiri graduates faced challenges in securing jobs within the oil and gas sector. He urged for special consideration to be given to Itsekiri individuals in employment processes, beyond what is stipulated in existing industry regulations.
The call extended to Tinubu to use his influence to ensure fair employment opportunities for the indigenous communities in project developments. Additionally, he urged for concerted efforts in providing essential services like healthcare, clean water, and electricity to the Itsekiri oil-bearing communities.