The Chairman of Kokodiagbene Community in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, has appealed to the Consul general of the United States of America in Nigeria, John Bray to promote the speedy development of the Niger Delta region.
Comrade Mulade who spoke on Tuesday at a reception organized in honour of the United States Consul general to the Community described the community as a critical stakeholder in the oil and gas sector, producing about three hundred thousand (300,000) barrels of crude oil per day.
He disclosed that the community is host to over one hundred (100) wellheads in the Jones Creeks Oil Field and Utonama Flow station, both in Gbaramatu Kingdom.
Mulade who is also an environmentalist, noted that the community has over twenty-three negatively impacted communities which spread over its territory and one of the most peaceful oil and gas bearing Communities in Delta State and Nigeria at large.
He said, “Regrettably, this peaceful disposition has not earned Kokodiagbene Community the desired development and benefits it deserves from the oil and gas industry, as well as the Government and it’s agencies.”
The Kokodiagbene Community Chairman also revealed that “In 1998, Kokodiagbene Town won the Most Peaceful Host Community Award with a cash amount of Ten Million Naira from Chevron. This amount was judiciously utilized by the executive to carry out various community development projects that you are going to see today as we take you around the town”.
He also informed the United States Consul general that at the peak of the Niger Delta crisis in 2003, Kokodiagbene Community deployed it’s youths to protect all oil and gas facilities in its territory and that Chevron appreciated the community with the sum of Four Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira which was also used to execute more community development programmes.
“Kokodiagbene Community has also received several significant awards and recognition from oil and gas servicing companies. In spite of her huge contributions to the administration of Warri South West Local Government Area, Delta State and Nigeria at large, there is nothing tangible to show for it, except the massive environmental pollution on daily basis that has caused several deadly diseases which has affected the good and peace loving people of Kokodiagbene Community”, he said.
Comrade Mulade listed the development needs of the people to include, the completion of the shore-protection , reclamation and sand filling project awarded by the NDDC, construction of more buildings for Kokodiagbene Secondary School, Electrification/supply of electricity to Kokodiagbene Town through Chevron Flow station, completion of the Riverine Cottage hospital, Kokodiagbene Town awarded and abandoned by SPDC and the provision of adequate water supply for Kokodiagbene Community, among others.
“We believe that the above requests are some of the immediate needs of Kokodiagbene will through this visit be taken to appropriate authorities for action. We strongly appeal to the Consul general to use this special visit to facilitate sustainable peace and development in the Niger Delta particularly in Gbaramatu Kingdom”, he stated.
