Tina Amanda
Over three hundred protesters from Akala-Olu Community in Ahoada-West Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Thursday, shut down the activities of Agip Oil Company in Oshie flow Station over alleged neglect of the host community.
The protesters which comprised of men, women and youths blocked the main entrance of the flow station with cooking pots, mats, woods, denying workers access into the company.
Some of the protesters who spoke to our reporter complained that the multinational company has failed to employ graduate youths and provide basic amenities as part of Social Cooperate Responsibility of the company.
They lamented that the multinational company has failed in its demands which they claimed have lured some youths in the community into negative activities, hunger, sickness while threatening to totally shut down the operation of the company or remain in protest until their demands are meant.
They said their crops have wildered as a result of the heat of the flare from the company, adding that the memorandum of understanding they had with the company expired in 2004 and Agip is refusing to renew it.
On his part, youth president of the community, Vincent Eyee, said that the multinational company has failed to meet up the demanded agreement with the community. He called on the Government to intervene to avert further delay.
“We have written to Agip severally concerning issues of employment, yet no good response. Since the year 1974 to date, Agip has not employed any graduate from this community, there is no good road, the technical school that has been built for so long is not functional. Agip has refused to commission it.
“The health centre that was started for over twenty years Agip has not completed it, there is no electricity”
Our correspondent reports that the representatives of the company declined to speak to newsmen as of when leaving the scene.
