Ugborodo, a riverine community in Warri, Delta State, has threatened to disrupt the operations of International Oil Companies (IOCs) in the area over alleged neglect failure to dredge Escravos.
This was as the community called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately remove the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola and also rejig the top hierarchy of the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA).
The community, operating under the aegis of Ugborodo Community Youth Development Body, stated these in an open letter addressed to President Tinubu, signed by Wilson Ejeh and David Mamah, President and Public Relations Officer, respectively.
The open letter was copied to the Office of Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori; the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Chief of Army Staff, General Abiodun Lagbaja and other relevant security agencies.
The Ugborodo Community expressed dissafection over an alleged neglect of the Delta Port in Warri by the immediate past and the present administration.
It noted that all its appeals and entreaties to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy to dredge the Escravos Bar Mouth and Warri River have been ignored.
The Ugborodo Community stated that the dredging would allow bigger ships and vessels access Delta Ports and subsequently revitalise commercial activities in Delta and neighbouring states, for the overall benefit of the country.
“Your Excellency Sir, all entreaties made to the Minister and heads of parastatals under him, either through written or verbal communication, to make them commit to the dredging of Escravos Bar Mouth/Warri River, have fell on deaf ears.
“These entreaties, include the recent open letter addressed to Your Excellency which was widely publicised in various print and online media across the country.
“This I-don’t-care attitude of the Minister, is not only disrespectful to the Ugborodo people, other Itsekiris and our neighbours, but is also tantamount to economic sabotage and deliberate attempt to project your administration in bad light before Deltans.
“It is vitally important at this juncture to emphasise that vessels that occasionally pass through the Escravos Bar Mouth, are often grounded for more than two weeks, as a result NNPCL pipelines shallowly laid decades ago.
“The situation has resulted in astronomical increase in transportation and allied costs on the part of the importers.
“This leads to near comatose of the over 20 petrol depots in Delta State and eventually translates into huge financial burden on the consumers, especially riverine dwellers who are compelled to cough out times two of what urban residents spend to buy diesel, PMS (petrol) and other petroleum products.
“Succinctly put, our people in the coastal communities spend far more money to buy fuel, diesel and cooking gas for domestic use, compared to those in the towns and cities.
“Even though the bulk of the oil and gas resources are in the riverine communities, we suffer the consequences of increase in petroleum products more. The pollution of our environment by oil and gas majors has killed fishing and other forms of business.
“Whenever the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority is called upon to address the situation of vessels going aground at the Escravos Bar Mouth, they are quick to blame it on NNPCL pipelines. The NNPCL, on its part, gives an impression of helplessness,” the Ugborodo Community stayed in the open letter to the president.
The Ugborodo Community recalled earlier assurances by President Tinubu during his electioneering campaigns to open up Warri, Burutu, Sapele and Koko ports.
The community lamented that the Minister of Marine Economy and heads of NPA as well as sister MDAs, “have through their actions, made vast majority of Deltans wrongly feel that Your Excellency is only interested in further advancing the socio-economic life of ports in Lagos State.”
The Ugborodo Community threatened to “activate the threat of disrupting the smooth operations of the multinational oil and gas companies operating in our area, any moment from now,” except its demands are met.
“Mr President, unlike your predecessors who were only interested in the huge resources (crude oil and natural gas) in our communities, we are of the opinion that you are truly committed to changing the narrative.
“It is consequent upon this trust, that we declare thus: Sack the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola immediately and replace him with a competent and vibrant Nigerian;
“Order immediate personnel restructure in the top hierarchy of Nigerian Ports Authority so as to address the nonchalant exhibited towards the development of Delta Ports;
“Direct the management of NNPCL to immediately relocate the pipelines grounding vessels and big ships at the Escravos Bar Mouth;
“Initiate immediate action towards the dredging of Escravos Bar Mouth and Warri River,” the Ugborodo Community further stated in the open letter.
