….Appeals to Gov Okpebholo, Oba Ewuare II, others to come to their aid
By Simeon OSAJIE
Uroho Community is in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State and host to an active oil well, but languished in an unending neglect and exploitation.
Contrary to what is obtained in climes where the system works for the benefits of all, and what is provided for in the reviewed ‘Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, Uroho Community in all ramifications is alienated by operators of the oil well, and even government.
Weekend, a team of journalists visited the community and it was a tale of anguish and abandonment.
In spite of its status as host of an active oil well, rapidly expanding and transitioning to an urban area, modern infrastructure particularly a health centre and good network of roads to tell the story, are absent.
It is always a nightmare for residents during the rainy season hence they are having a sigh of relief, at the approach of the dry season.
The Okaighele (Youths’ Head), Amb. Osagie Omorogie accompanied by other leaders in the community on behalf of the residents narrated their ordeal, appealing for the attention of the oil well operators, government, others, both at the State and local Government levels to come to their aid.
Amb. Friday Constance Ogiesoba, said Uroho community is connected to several neighbouring communities via the road running through it.
Hence it is very important and deserves all the attention from the State Government, local Government, and operators of the oil well here.
Whenever it rains, residents find it difficult to access their homes due to the deplorable conditions of the road and flooding, which has made many residents to be relocating out of the community.
According to him, “We want to passionately appeal to His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo our amiable and ever working hard governor, the Oba of Benin Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, and Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission (EDSOPADEC) to come to our aide.
“It will surprise you to know that there are two oil wells here in Uroho yet we are neglected and abandoned. No Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of any sort enjoyed.”
The Okaighele, Amb Osagie Omoregie corroborating the narration of Ogiesoba said the people of Uroho community are peace loving, and have resolved not to be violent in the protest of the neglect and abandonment and passionately appealed to the Edo State government, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II and operators of the oil well to help them out in the construction of their road which he also said is an important access road to neighboring communities.
The Uroho oil well which was said to have been built in 2002, has its pipelines run through to Ovade in Delta State.
The representative of the women in the community, Madam Augustina Ikponmwonsa pointed out the people of Uhoro community are in dire need of intervention from the state government, Oba Ewuare II CFR and others as residents are moving out of the community in numbers as a result of the deplorable nature of the road.
She noted that anytime it rains the children will not go to school for a week or more due to the effects of the bad road hence the appeal for government to come aid.
Extract from the PIA 2021 as reviewed
The reviewed Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 benefits host communities by fostering sustainable prosperity, providing direct socio-economic benefits from petroleum operations, and creating a framework for community development through mandatory contributions to a Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT).