By Adaobi Nsofor
A combined delegation from Ogwuikpele and Ogwuaniocha Communities, in Ogbaru Local Government Area, paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman/ CEO, Anambra State Solid Minerals Development Company and Anambra Petroleum and Energy Resources, Prof.Charles Ofoegbu, to seek an end to their unending crisis and untold hardships ravaging the two communities.
One of the delegates, Mr Olisa Onwuma, stated that they work for SEEPCO, the company that produces oil in Ogbaru, but promises made to them in the past have not been fulfilled, as they are not being paid as and when due by SEEPCO and have not been benefiting from the oil wells since time immemorial.
He mentioned that there’s no good and functional schools and hospitals in their communities, even as their children usually get drowned in the river while going to school on boats.
Mr Onwuma argued that not a single indigene of the communities is in the service of the company as a full time staff and most of the government’s intervention palliatives given out to communities affected by flood have not gotten to them for the past two years.
He pleaded that the state Governor should look into their plight as they are suffering in their various communities and in the discharge of their duties as CLOs.
Responding, the Chairman, Prof.Ofoegbu lamented that despite his interventions, the two communties are still faced with various crisis ranging from bunkering and badging of crude oil, poor infrastructure and lack of social amenities.
“Ogbaru is now in the map of the world, following the oil wells in these two communties, and through my intervention, Anambra State was made an oil producing state. My concern now is, how do you rescue your people because they’re suffering? We agreed to set up a committee to monitor badging and the number of times the badges cross the river,the size of the badge and the timing. Some people are tampering with the proceeds of our oil and you must not keep quiet. You people are working for the good of the communities and you must earn your salaries to survive.”
“We also agreed that there should be a Fish Processing Plant in Ogbaru; one in Ogwuikpele and one in Ogwuaniocha, in the form of a fish farming Cooperative, where they will harvest, process, package and export fishes”, Prof.Ofoegbu added.
He further advised them to put all their needs in writing so that he can officially relay them to the State Government.
