By Olamide Francis
Youths from Koluama Clan in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State staged a peaceful protest over the weekend in Yenagoa to draw global attention to the oil spill ravaging their area.
Speaking on behalf of the youths during the protest, President of Koluama 1, Mr. Emmanuel Tiwei Phillip, told the Special Adviser to the governor on oil and gas, Frank Otele, to register their grievances with the state government to prevail on the oil companies responsible for the spill to deal with the matter.
Emmanuel, on behalf of the youths, appealed to Otele to prevail on the oil companies to send relief materials and medical teams to the impacted community.
He expressed deep concerns over the total neglect of host communities by the oil multinationals despite series of appeals on the effect of the spills on their environment and aquatic lives as well as their source of livelihood.
He accused the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) of connivance with oil companies in the destruction of their environment.
The youth leader called on the multinationals to live up to their corporate social responsibility by providing social amenities, potable drinking water and health care in these oil-producing communities that have been living in abject poverty and utter neglect.
Responding, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Oil and Gas, Franklin Otele, thanked the youths for the peaceful conduct they demonstrated during the protest.
He assured them that the relevant government agencies would work hard to confirm the oil company responsible for the oil spill after an appropriate laboratory test.
On his part, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on oil and gas, Chief Solomon Timi Seimiebo urged them to remain calm as the government would do the needful on the issue