Reps probe Shell's alleged role in violencePENGASSAN, NUPENG declare strikeLEADERS of the Niger Delta oil communities yesterday decried what they described as the neglect of their areas by oil companies.The leaders, who spoke under the auspices of the South-South Elders and Leaders Forum, therefore sought laws to protect the areas.They specifically accused Chevron of being insensitive to the plight of the people of the oil-producing areas where it conducts its business.Also, oil giant, Shell Development Company Limited is to face the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) investigative panel to explain its involvement in the series of killings, and clashes in the Niger Delta particularly in Rumuekpe in Rivers State.This came after a report recently also indicted the Anglo-Dutch company for fuelling killings in the NigerDelta.And apparently miffed by the rising insecurity, especially kidnapping in the Niger Delta region, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have declared a three-day warning strike beginning from October 10 to 12, 2011.Most of the victims of the kidnap saga especially in Delta and Edo States have been members of the bodies.The South-South leaders cited the recent development in the Ugborodo community in Warri, Delta State, as reflective of the attitude of Chevron across the Niger Delta communities, saying it was dehumanizing and unacceptable.In a statement signed by the leader of the forum, former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, the group said: 'We have observed for some time now, the dismay, anger, non-chalant and insensitive attitude of Chevron over the demonstration of the Ugborodo community in the past three days, particularly against the neglect, discrimination, dehumanization, marginalization and the devastating erosion of their area by Chevron as a result of the oil exploration, which has also seriously affected the ecosystem.What is happening to Ugborodo community today is being repeated all over the Niger Delta by the operations of all the other oil companies.'Clark lamented that 'these oil companies believed that their partnership with the Federal Government has given them a licence to destroy and neglect the welfare of the oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta, dehumanize, marginalize and discriminate against the people to the extent of reducing them to mere existence.'He noted: 'For instance, minor contracts meant for the host communities have been given to contractors who operate outside the oil host communities and this is part of the agitations of the Ugborodo community.'According to him, while there is neither drinking water nor electricity in Ugborodo, Chevron has built a small modern city which is comparable to any small town in Nigeria for its own workers with well built hospitals, 24 hours electricity, modern drinking water, among other facilities.Clark urged the Federal Government to facilitate the passage of bills that promote and protect the interest of oil-producing areas in the country, lamenting that the Petroleum Industry Bill which is one of such bills had suffered to many setbacks.A report published on Monday by London-based oil and gas industry watchdog, Platform, allegedlyaccused Shell of escalating armed conflicts in the Niger Delta region resulting in the killing of about 60 persons.The Platform said among other charges, that Shell paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and contract deals to feuding militant groups as well as government security agents that attacked, and killed many in the region.The allegations came barely a month after a United Nations-sponsored study accused Shell of being responsible for serious environmental damage of the Ogoni area of the Niger Delta.The Aminu Waziri Tambuwal-led House of Representatives yesterday said the allegations were 'too weighty to be overlooked' for a region that has witnessed violence in recent years, resulting in low government oil earnings.Titled: 'Alleged funding of killings and clashes in the Niger Delta by Shell Development Company' and sponsored by Andrew Uchendu, the House expressed worry that Shell has often been accused of doing little to develop the communities it has operated in and that the company has often times been accused of directly funding rival groups in those areas.Consequently, the parliament mandated its Petroleum Committee to get the oil company to explain its role before a decision is taken by the house on the matter.Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police have been urged to immediately track down anEnugu-based businessman, Alexander Ndubuisi who was alleged to have set his pregnant wife and two children ablaze.In a statement signed by Representative Ogbuefi Ozombachi, (PDP, Enugu State), he expressed disappointment that Ndubuisi had been allowed to escape despite the grievous nature of the alleged crime.He said: 'It is indeed sad that a man in his right senses set his pregnant wife and two childrenon fire. There could be more to the incident than we have read in the reports available. The police should ensure that the fleeing Alexander is arrested and made to face the law. He should not go unpunished.'It was reported that Ndubuisi set his pregnant wife and two children ablaze last Saturday in his shop in Enugu.
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