UN delegation, Netherlands Investors Visit Itsekiri Community To Assess Proverty Level

A delegation comprises of United Nations agencies in Nigeria and some Netherlands Investors, on Tuesday, visited Ureju Community, an Itsekiri enclave, Warri North local government area of Delta State to assess the level of proverty in the area.

The visit of the UN’s officials led by Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, and Dr. Sunny Ofehe, Netherlands based environmental rights activist, who led the Netherlands investors to the state, was part of Olu of Warri avowed commitment to open up Warri Kingdom and attract both government and private investors to the area.

In the high-powered entourage was the Majesty, the Queen Consort, of Warri Kingdom, Olori Atuwatse III, the wife of Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III who accompanied the team on a guided facility tour of Nana Museum in Koko, Warri North Council before they proceeded to Ureju, a Shell host community.

Addressing the delegation, chairman of the community, Mr. Eniyan Tonwe, said that the community was formally a host to Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC before it divested and transferred its assets to NPDC/ELCREST Joint Venture.

He said that for the number of years Shell operated in the area, there’s nothing to show for it, lamenting that there are no basic amenities like health care facility, school and pipe borne water for the locals.

Tonwe said that a recent spill incident in the area had caused a lot of damages to fishing occupation of the people, saying that their major challenge is shore protection.

“We are being shortchanged and marginalized in so many ways. We don’t have school here. We don’t have health centre, no medical care. Our sick people sometimes died before they’re rushed to Koko.

“The level of abject proverty here is very high and we’re suffering. We don’t have good water to drink because the river is polluted.

“One of the things threatening the people of this place that we need shore protection and sand filling because the river usually overflow into our houses. The buildings you’re seeing here today are all sinking, they’re submerging”, he lamented.

While thanking the delegation for the visit, he, however urged them to come to the aid of the community and channel their problems to the appropriate authorities.

Speaking Dr (Comrade) Sunny Ofehe, expressed concern that the OML 40 host community is being neglected whilst over the River where the oil companies operates from is electrified.

“I am happy the Head of the UN representation in this country is here to see things for himself. On the other side you have petrodollars and on this side you have complete proverty. There is nowhere in the world you see this kind of proverty. It is a complete irony and it’s a shame”, Ofehe said.

“We’re happy we now have a King who has travel round the world to advocate about the plight of his people”, he said.

In his remarks, UN representative, Matthias Schmale, expressed commitment to bring about change to the people of the area, saying that it’s established now that there is a question of justice for the people of the area.

“We will try our best to see that in partnership with others we can see about change for this village.

“First of all, there is a question of justice here. One of the things the UN can bring into the table is to speak about justice and tell the people on the other side that there is issue of justice here.

“We need to work with all of you and the oil companies to see what we can bring in. I see furtile land, we will see what we can do about fishing and creating avenue for you wealth creation.

“It is government responsible to provide school and we will see how we can influence government to provide schools. We will meet with Government at the state and federal level to see to that.

“We will also partner the kingdom to see that this place become a better place”, he added.

In her remark, the wife of the Olu of Warri, Olori Atuwatse III, thanked the UN representative and his entourage including the Netherlands team for showing concern and visiting the oil community.

“Oreju is a great example of oil exploration and proverty level in the Niger Delta. We hope to see a better community after this visit”, she enthused.

Others in the delegation include Mr. Dirk Bos (The Netherlands), Prof. Dr. Ernst Franzek (Germany), Mr. Niels Ducaat (The Netherlands), Mr. Jacobus Van Wissen among others.