By Our Correspondent

The people of Tsekelewu and Polobobou communities, Egbema Kingdom, Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State, have given the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) 21-days ultimatum to kick-start all abandoned projects in their communities or risk civil disturbances and disruption of operation of oil companies in their area.

They also called on Chevron Nigeria Limited to commence the dredging Tsekelewu and Pelobobou creek for easy accessibility to their communities, stressing that Chevron operations in their area have succeeded in converting their creeks to ordinary land and difficult to enter.

The 21-days ultimatum is contained in a press statement signed by Comrade Marvis Ofiyai and Asoki Victor, President and Secretary, respectively, Tsekelewu and Polobobou Communities on behalf of their people and made available to newsmen in Warri.

It noted that the ultimatum was premised on the fact that NDDC has failed to live up to her responsibilities to their communities with respect to about five major projects initiated in 2005 but abandoned till date, adding that they have nothing to show that they are oil producing communities.

“Niger Delta Development Commission should use the statutory allocation from oil companies to develop oil producing communities such as tackling the case of Tsekelewu & Polobobou canalization project urgently before it will lead to gross protest that may shock the world.”

“The Federal Government, State Government should compel Chevron Nigeria Limited and Niger Delta Development Commission to dredge Tsekelewu & Polobobou Creeks for easy accessibility to our communities. The only way we can guarantee peace is to address our demands timely. If this dredging issue is not addressed we promise will affect the operation of Chevron Nigeria Limited.”

“The canalization of Tsekelewu & Polobobou communities creek was awarded by Niger Delta Development Commission in 2005 but it has been abandoned till date and other four water projects from NDDC were also abandoned. The commission has not impacted Tsekelewu & Polobobou communities positively since inception till date.”

They also called for sand filling of their communities to avoid being washed away by ocean surge, constitution of roads, construction of walk ways within the communities, mass assisted transpire, just as the appealed for inclusion of members of the communities in the NDDC Skills Acquisition Programmes as no member of the communities have benefited from the scheme.

Tsekelewu & Polobobou Communities are landlords to multinational oil companies such as Chevron Nigeria Limited Opuekeba Platform, NPDC/Elcrest Exploration & Production Nigeria Limited Opuama Flowstation and Sahara Energy, and all fields are contributing to Nigeria’s daily prodauction output.