Electricity Supply: Delta Youths Vow to Shut Down Agip Oil Installations

By Amos Igbebe
Youths drawn from Ndokwa ethnic nationality in Delta State have vowed to shut down Agip Oil installations should the oil firm fail to step down its Independent Power Plant and supply electricity to the three local government areas within the next twenty one days beginning from September 27, 2015.
The angry youths made up of different unions said they have borne the pains of living without electricity for years whereas communities which do not produce oil and gas are enjoying electricity and they have therefore resolved to take action against the oil company and shut down its operations in the area.
The over three hundred youths handed down the 21 days ultimatum during an interaction with the member representing Ndokwa nation in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Ossai N. Ossai, in Umutu, Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State on Sunday.
Leaders of the different groups, who spoke with unity, said the three local government areas which make up the Ndokwa nation have been shortchanged by Agip as it drills oil and gas from the area but the communities from which the oil is produced have nothing to show for it.
“Agip is oppressing us, it has been exploiting our oil for years without doing anything for our communities. I am now ready to take it up with Agip. I will make sure I mobilise the youths of Ndokwa nation to Agip and shut the company down. We have written to the President and told him that Ndokwa people need light.
“Ever since then we have been waiting but nothing has happened. Ndokwa youths are now ready to do anything for Agip to step down its Independent Power Plant. We want electricity in Ndokwa nation. If nothing is done beside media action, the youths of Ndokwa nation are ready to shut down the oil installation of Agip”, Chukwuma O. Chukwuma, President of Pages Group International, voiced out.
Hessington Okolo, former President of Ndokwa Youth Congress, said the Agip Independent Power Plant (IPP) was commissioned in 2005, by former President Olusegun Obasanjo where he made categorical statements that Agip should step down electricity in Ndokwa communities but lamented that after 10 years, nothing has since been done for the area.
He said “they know what to do and they have refused to do it and that is why we are ready to take action on them. 10 years down the line we are still struggling to get light. It’s a deliberate act. We are saying this time around, we will not back down. We generate 480 megawatts of electricity and we don’t even have light in our communities. If you go round Ndokwa now, there are few communities that have light. Okpai, the place where they have the IPP, the place is bad.
“We will no longer keep quiet, we are going to take it up. We are not shifting ground, they’ve started one in Asaba but where the electricity is being generated, there is nothing at all and they are busy telling us stories. We are not ready for that. The youths are united, we are ready for this. No force of subjugation or coercion will stop us. We will stand this time around, nobody is going to stop us.
“We must stand united, if we stand united, the plant will be stepped down. They should come and tell us why it should not be stepped down. We give 21 days’ ultimatum to Agip, if they fail, we will shut down the IPP. We will start counting from today. Agip has been operating here for the past 50 years and we have no light. It can no longer continue”.
Member representing the area in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ossai N. Ossai, said he shared in the pains and aspirations of his people, noting that not less than 10 oil companies are exploring oil in Ndokwa land and that the Agip IPP was commissioned by Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005 with a promise to step down electricity to the people of Ndokwa nation but lamented that since 2005 till date, the promise is yet to be fulfilled.
He said “I share in your plight, your aspiration and your goals, I sympathize with Ndokwa nation. N13.6bn was planned for the step down in 2006 when I was a member of Delta State House of Assembly. Everything was planned to be done at the same time with Asaba but Asaba today is enjoying light but Ndokwa that produces the light has nothing to show for it.
“Your struggle is my struggle. I will not shy away from this. But if they come to dialogue with you, give them audience. I will call on Agip to come and discuss with you”.
The lawmaker, who concurred with the 21 days ultimatum given by the youths to compel Agip and NNPC to step down electricity in Ndokwa land, said the people of the area are angry but as a representative of the people, he would calm them down pending the determination of Agip to step down electricity and supply light to the people.
Ossai said Ndokwa federal constituency produced the highest quantity of gas in Nigeria and Africa, amounting to 10 trillion cubic tonnes of gas, noting that Okpai, the community where Agip is situated, is caving in and might soon be taken over by the high seas.
“This means the oil company has not done the needful. That is why they are agitating and ventilating their anger on Agip. You are taking 480 megawatts of electricity out of the place and yet you can’t step down even zero percent to the community. I think it’s not good and they have voiced it out and me as a representative of my people, I must carry their voice and tell Agip and then government that my people are angry. If my people are angry I’m also angry because I’m part of them.
“I believe that the federal government with this agitation will listen to the Ndokwa people to include the money in the next 2016 budget. It’s just N13.6bn. They are taking trillions of naira away from the people’s land, you only asked to return at least N13.6bn to the people. I believe this is a just fight and not a wrong one at all”.