By Obiabin Onukwugha
Bonny Kingdom in Rivers State has threatened to shutdown of operations of international and local oil companies operating across its communities following their failure to implement Community Social Responsibility (CSR).
The CSR contains, among others, the ongoing Train 7 project contractual agreement and other Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) previously entered into.
The kingdom has cried out that the persistent impact of oil drilling on its communities, which they said has resulted in atmospheric pollution, acid rain and the rapid eroding of its shore.
Bonny is host to Shell Petroleum Development.Company (SPDC), Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU), TotalEnergies Nigeria Limited,and BelemaOil, and the Bonny Terminal from which Nigeria’s crude is sold to the international market.
The leadership of the Kindom issued the threat during a press briefing in Bonny, shortly after suspending a planned protest against the IOCs on Monday.
The Chairman, Bonny Kingdom Development Committee (BKDC), Amaopusenibo Hart, alleged that despite contributing about 4 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP), the Rivers State and Federal Governments and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), have not executed any developmental project, except the Bodo/Bonny road which was initiated in 1975, but is yet to be completed as of date.
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He said the protest was suspended after an intervention from State stakeholders, including the security agencies and as well the LNG.
According to Hart, the protest was as a result of the injustices, marginalization, neglect, deprivations and breach of agreements on the part of International Oil and Gas Companies operating in the Kingdom.
“For emphasis, NLNG and SCD-JV signed Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) to execute the following Projects in the Kingdom under the Train-7Project: Expansion of the road from Shell gate to Coal Beach with a spour from Amaomu Junction to the King Perekule Palace; Construction of a 5,000capacity mini-stadium and Sports Academy; Construction of Vehicular Terminal,Construction of a 2.5km road from Workers’ Camp to Simidia Junction, but has failed to implement any of them for years now,” he recalled.
The BKDC chairman recalled further: “There is also an agreement to construct a Waste-to-Wealth facility, among others, but none of these projects has seen the light of day up till now,” alleging that aside the renovation of classrooms, no CSR project has so far been implemented by Shell, Mobil, BelemaOil, and others in any part of Bonny LGA.
Hart frowned at the absence of both state and federal governments developmental projects, despite contributing about 4 percent to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP).
“We must state clearly and unequivocally that this is a cry for help by the people of Bonny Kingdom and a strong note of warning that things will no longer remain as they are,” the chairman.
He said the kingdom demands that LNG, Mobil and SPDC should reach an agreement with it on the execution of all the accrued CSR projects of over 15 years due the kingdom; LNG and SPDC should release to Bonny Kingdom, all the accrued funds for the 2015 MoU; LNG should immediately transfer the stakeholders’ provided funds for all the T-7 CSR projects to a special projects account to be managed by LNG and BKDC.
