By ODE-UGBORODO, Delta State – Facing existential threats from both the raging Atlantic Ocean and decades of corporate neglect, the unified people of Ugborodo community have drawn a line in the sand, giving international oil companies one week to address their grievances or face a complete shutdown of operations.
In an unprecedented show of unity, the community’s recognised leadership – comprising the management committee, women traders, and youth bodies – stood shoulder-to-shoulder at a press conference in their ancestral headquarters to deliver what they called their “final warning.”
“The ocean is eating our land, the companies are stealing our future, and our patience has run out,” declared Madam Helen O. Nuco, Chairlady of the Ikpere Alemeje Women Traders Association, her voice echoing the frustration of generations.
“We have watched for fifty years while others grew rich from our resources. That ends now.”
The community’s demands are stark and immediate: formal recognition as host communities under the Petroleum Industry Act, the establishment of development trusts, and an end to what they describe as “economic apartheid” in employment practices.
Mr. Wilson Ejeh, Chairman of the Ugborodo Community Youth Development Body, delivered the ultimatum with chilling clarity. “In seven days, if we do not see concrete action, every oil installation in our territory will fall silent. We have nothing left to lose.”
The threat carries significant weight in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta, where Ugborodo hosts critical infrastructure including Chevron’s massive Escravos gas plant.
Beyond the labour disputes, community leaders described an unfolding environmental catastrophe. “Our homes are disappearing into the sea while the companies that drilled our land look away,” said Mr. Emmanuel Onuwaje, UCMC Chairman. “We need shore protection today, not empty promises for tomorrow.”
The leadership also condemned what they called a “sham” trust council formed recently in Warri, accusing certain elements of attempting to hijack their community’s rightful benefits.
As the seven-day countdown begins, the atmosphere in the coastal community remains tense. The unified stance of women, youth, and traditional leadership signals a determination not seen in years, setting the stage for a potentially dramatic confrontation that could ripple through Nigeria’s crucial oil industry.
“The time for talking is over,” concluded Mr. Ejeh. “Now is the time for action.”
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