The 14 oil producing communities of Oil Mining Lease (OML) 42 in the Warri South and the Warri South-West local government areas of Delta State, under the umbrella body of OML 42 Host Communities Forum, have appealed to the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, for meaningful infrastructural and human capital development.

The Forum, led by its Chairman, Pst. Windfree Atemubaghan, made the appeal on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, when its members paid an official visit to the Commissioner representing Ijaw ethnic nationality in DESOPADEC, Hon. Spencer Okpoye; with the Executive Director of Socials, Chief Favour Izoukumor in attendance at the Commissioner's office in Warri.

Speaking in an address to the DESOPADEC Commissioner and ED, the Forum's Public Relations Officer, Chief Samson Oyimi, alleges that the 14 host communities of OML 42, which comprises of the Ijaw and the Itsekiri ethnic nationalities, produce up to 400,000 barrels of crude oil daily, but are not getting commensurate returns on development and empowerment as critical stakeholders.

Chief Oyimi, who said that the need for the visit is to intimate the Commission of their plights, reeled out their demands to include siting of infrastructural projects, skill acquisition and empowerment for the women and the youths, scholarship for students as well as assisting host communities with transport facilities to aid movement of pupils and students in the riverine areas for easy access to schools in their domains.

Chief Oyimi also appealed to the Commission to consider the home-based contractors in OML 42 host communities when DESOPADEC is awarding contracts so that they too can contribute their inputs to the development of their communities.

Also speaking, the Forum's Treasurer, Amb. Billy Ekele, who noted that they are aware of the issue of funding of projects facing DESOPADEC, however said that the Forum is ready to work with the Commission and will in no distant time make a compilation of all their demands for onward submission to the Board.

Capping the appeal, the Forum's Chairman, Pst. Atemubaghan, who lamented the absence of potable water in the various host communities, further charged the ED and the Commissioner to make use of their appointments to initiate legacy projects that will speak for them when they leave office, as he re-emphasized that no position is occupied forever.

"I beg sirs, for you to use your office to please put us in your plans such that when you are done, your legacies will speak for you," Pst. Atemubaghan pleaded, while further confiding that "we use to have people that rule us that do not have the feeling; but you are part of the area and you know the pains of the people," he added.

Responding to their appeals, the DESOPADEC Commissioner, Hon. Okpoye thanked the Forum for their visits, noting that this would be the first time the Ijaws and the Itsekiris are jointly paying him a visit, describing such as commendable.

Hon. Okpoye, who said he is familiar with all of the communities, promised that the Commission will do its best to meet up to the expectations of critical stakeholders by improving on its mandate areas and “doing things differently this time around,” especially in awarding of contracts to capable hands in its bid to do away with abandoned projects.

"I want to assure you that the issues are noted. I will support the ED to get something good from this government. We will do our best to ensure that oil producing communities, whatever that should come to them should get to them," he assured.

On his part, the ED of DESOPADEC, Chief Izoukumor, while commending the Forum's unity as portrayed in the Ijaws and the Itsekiris coming together to forge a common front, reminded them that "you are the reason for the creation of the Commissioner's office" and also assured them that "OML 42 is my primary constituency".

He therefore prayed for them to sustain the unity in line with the dream of Delta State, and assured them that the government of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori that believes in the bottom-top approach will always listen to them and do the needful.

Other members of the Forum in attendance during the visit include Elder Francis Ayeku (secretary), Amb. Frederick Igere, Comrades Preye Ajemigi, Christmas Bekewei, Asin Fredrick, Prince Preye, Humphrey Yomere, Tekedor Quinton, Sunny Atiwa, among others.

It would be recalled that the Forum had earlier visited the Commissioner representing the Itsekiri ethnic nationality in the Board of DESOPADEC, Hon. Sunny Ofe, with the same demands of infrastructural and human capital development.

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