Oil communities decry neglect despite contribution to nation’s economy

Port Harcourt -- Oil producing communities in Rivers State have decried alleged neglect and abandonment of their communities by the government at all levels, despite their massive contribution to the national economy.

The oil and gas rich communities particularly mentioned dilapidated health centres, lack of potable water, absent of electricity and dilapidated internal roads as major challenges in their communities.

The communities are Odiemerenyi community in Ahoada East, Bomu community in Gokana, GeorgePepple community in Bonny, Idama Ekulama community in Akuku Toru, Oyigbo Urban in Oyigbo, Umuechem in Etche, Akpabu community in Emohua and AliOhuru community in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.

Speaking during a townhall meeting organised by Connected Development in Port Harcourt, the

MKPOIKANA UDOMA

communities called on the government to rise up to its responsibility by providing basic amenities in the rural areas.

The Community Development Chairman, CDC, of Umuechem in Etche, Engr Godson Nwairoegbu, decried that his community has no motorable road or hospital, despite hosting many oil and gas wells.

"Umuechem is the second place where oil was discovered in commercial quantity after Oloibiri. We need the state federal and local government to help us, we have no roads, electricity, health centres, etc". Similarly, the CDC of AliOhuru community in Omoku, Barr Mela Ake, lamented that oil spills from facilities operated by multinationals in the area have, over the years, contaminated the underground water.