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See How Bayelsa oil-bearing Community Protests 22 Years of Neglect by Oil Company

Published by Tope Fakinlede on October 12th, 2024.

See How Bayelsa oil-bearing Community Protests 22 Years of Neglect by Oil Company

Residents of the Asamabiri community in Sagbama Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, have staged a protest against what they describe as decades of neglect by the oil company operating in their area.

As a co-host community to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Asamabiri is calling for intervention from both federal and state governments to address their grievances, which have persisted for over 22 years.

Carrying placards, the protesters expressed frustration over the lack of statutory benefits and essential services from the oil firm. Chief Joseph Odoni, the community’s Paramount Ruler, voiced the community’s concerns during the demonstration at the company’s facility, stating that previous efforts to resolve the issues have been unsuccessful. He accused the company of favoring another co-host community over Asamabiri.

Comrade S.B. Dorgu and other community leaders highlighted the dire conditions faced by residents due to the oil firm’s neglect, stressing that their natural resources have been exploited without fair compensation or support.

The protesters are urging Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, along with the Ijaw National Congress and the Ijaw Youth Council, to address the injustices faced by Asamabiri over the past two decades.

Participants in the protest also demanded that NAOC prioritize hiring skilled and unskilled workers from the local community and provide basic amenities such as healthcare, clean water, community halls, and electricity.

The protest was met by company supervisor Felix Egbezor, who urged community members to remain calm, assuring them that their complaints would be taken seriously.