The warning is coming following the expiration of a 7-days ultimatum earler issued by the community on January 19, 2022, which expires on Wednesday, January 26, 2022.
BIGPENNGR reports that the ultimatum followed the dredging of a portion of the waterways which the community claimed is making it difficult to gain access to their riverine homes.
Recalls the President-general of Polobubo National Council, Engr. Bright Abulu, General-secretary Revd. Clement Tiempo and Public Relation Officer, Mr. Christmas Ukugha, had at a press conference said the effects of the dredging and sweeping operations of the company was hazardous and impacting negatively on mobility and economic activities in the community.
On Wednesday, the host community to NPDC/El-Crest JV in OML40 in Opuama Flowstation, at a fresh press conference in Warri, said that 7-days after, the management of the oil firm was yet to attend to their plight, calling on the Federal and state governments to intervene.
“Recall that refusal of management of NPDC/El-crest for peaceful resolution of the issue of the negative impact of past and ongoing dredging activities on Tsekelewu community and waterways prompted Polobubo (Tsekelewu) Community’s national executive council to address a press conference and to issue a seven-day ultimatum to NPDC/El-Crest on January 19, 2022, which expires on Wednesday, January 26, 2022.
“That ultimatum stands.
“We want to inform the management of NPDC/El-crest/JV management and the Delta State Government, the Federal Government and the international community that the issues that made us to address the press conference have not been attended to because NPDC has refused to dialogue.
“That nobody should blame Polobubo (Tsekelewu) community if NPDC/El-crest JV operations be disrupted or halted.
Maintaining that Tsekelewu is a peaceful community, the people called for government intervention “in order to avoid pending shutdown of NPDC/El-crest operations, which NPDC/Elcrest JV management’s refusal for dialogue could precipitate or cause. A stitch in time saves nine”.
