Aniefon Dick
As a community affected by oil spill pollution and environmental degradation, the people of Rumuekpe Community in Emouha Local Government Area of Rivers State have called on the Government to look into the affairs of the community as Shell, and other multinationals oil companies they host has abandoned them to their fate.
In a media chat with Rumuekpe Community Leaders in Rumuekpe Community organised by Social Action Development Integrated Centre, the community representative and former councillor in Emouha LGA, Gaius Ajuru the situation the community has found herself is a sad one as Government has all it takes to develop Rumuekpe Community since Shell and the other oil companies they host have failed in their Social Corporate Responsibility.
Gaius Ajuru, A community leader explaining a point (Photo credit: Aniefon Dick)
” Any successive Government that comes does not look into this community, we don’t know why, Shell, Agip, Total, Elf and Aradiel operating in this community have abandoned us, no employment, no benefits, the Federal government and the State governments have what it takes to develop our community”.
One of the deplorable sites of the oil spills
Rumuekpe is contributing to the wealth of this nation and Rivers State at large but their sons and daughters have never occupied any strategic position in government. It is a sad situation the community finds itself in. ” We believe it is time governments at different levels should act now”” Aturu said
Ajuru noted that the 4 multinationals operating in the community have done more damage to the community rather than developing.
He explained; “Look at how this community is, it needs development till today Shell, Total E&P and others have not engaged anyone from the community. We need employment, our soil needs to be remediated, there is no light, no water, no hospitals. If there is a case of emergency before you get to Elele you may die, no basic amenities is here in this community “.
On the issue of Shell diversification, the community leader queried the development as Rumuekpe Community is kept is the dark.
“They have said that Shell is diversifyings without the knowledge of the community? Who will bear the burden of the liabilities they are leaving? We are not aware. Shell should inform us that they are leaving, they should be an engagement so we know how they are leaving”; he added.
In an overview on the deplorable state of the community, Chief Innocent Eroro in an emotion-laden voice laments that Shell has not done anything in Rumuekpe as they are suffering in spite of the multinational operation in the community.
“We are suffering while we have oil wells, the land is no more fertile, no hospitals, no light, no good roads, no basic amenities, nothing in Rumuekpe, no employment for the men, women and youths many of our women die anyhow and our men too because there is no hospital, Shell should do something and what they call remediation so we can reclaim our land”;.
Chief Eroro further said that all dialogue with Shell proves abortive as they don’t recognise the community.
“If we don’t do a road blockage, Shell will not do anything in the community, they don’t recognise us even in the midst of our suffering, we have written severally to the government and sometimes we can’t do a roadblock without taking permission from the relevant authorities “.
In the same vein, Rumuekpe Women Leader Blessing Orijus decried the effect of the oil spill on women stating all forms of sicknesses spring up daily in women’s health.
“Aside the oil spill affecting our lands as we are predominantly farmers, women are the most hit and affected by this oil spill, today women are crying from one sickness or the other, from 28 years to 30 years upward most of them have entered premature menopause, our women are not pregnant again, they find it hard to conceive.
Before oil spillage, cancer was unknown in our community but today cancer is rampant from one woman to another, many women have rashes all over their bodies even children are not exempted”; she stated
Orijus further stressed that despite harbouring 4 giant multinationals, there is no hospital to tackle Maternal and Newborn child morbidity rate if the need arises.
“We don’t even have a single hospital here, many of our pregnant women give birth through local midwives, if there is any serious health crisis by the time they get to University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) considering the distance, the patient will give up.
The community does not have a good hospital let alone a maternity hospital but we harbour 4 giant multinational companies. She disclosed that if they don’t block the companies they will not do anything in the community as the Community Secondary School and 2 solar water panels were gotten through exercising force.
Leader Of a Civil Society group, Henry Eferebo opined the need for the government to step in.
“Climate change effect is visible here. Efforts should be made to remove a considerable amount of hydrocarbons that have been circulating around the soil “; Eferebo suggested.
He urged the government to step in and do what is right.
