The indigenes of Kula and Belema communities of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State have directed Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to vacate their area, citing the inability of the company to comply with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached with the communities in their area of operation.
The Paramount Ruler of Oko Royal House in Kula, His Royal Majesty, King Bourillono Ekine, who spoke on behalf of youths, men and women of the affected communities in a press statement issued in Port Harcourt, said the people of the area had not benefited anything from Shell in its 40 years of operation in the affected communities.
The traditional ruler said he personally led a delegation of youths, women and chiefs in the area to shut down SPDC flow station last year because of the nonchalant attitude of Shell on issues of development of the area.
However, in a press statement issued in Port Harcourt, Shell said it spent about $30m in development projects in Belema communities.
