The Bayelsa State Government has urged communities in the Biseni Clan of Yenagoa Local Government Area to stop blocking access roads to oil facilities over unresolved grievances with companies operating in the area.
Key Highlights
- Bayelsa Government asked Biseni communities to stop blocking oil facility access roads.
- Ministry of Mineral Resources directed to engage Oando Plc and host communities.
- Government ordered Biseni communities to submit a comprehensive list of grievances within one week.
- Yenagoa council chairman said the communities’ grievances were linked to alleged unfulfilled agreements.
- Oando said it was prepared to rehabilitate bad sections of the road, rather than completely reconstruct it.
- Biseni traditional leadership backed the government’s call to end road blockades.
The Deputy Governor, Dr Peter Akpe, made the call on Thursday during a meeting with the leadership of Biseni Kingdom, officials of Oando Plc and senior government officials at the Government House in Yenagoa.
Akpe, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Doubara Atasi, stressed the need for peaceful resolution of disputes, warning that repeated protests and road blockades could damage the image of the state and further complicate efforts to resolve the issues.
The deputy governor directed the people of Biseni to compile and document all their grievances and demands and submit them to the appropriate government offices within one week for consideration and action.
He also directed the state Ministry of Mineral Resources to engage Oando Plc and its host communities in Biseni to resolve the outstanding issues, including the poor condition of the road linking the communities to some oil facilities operated by the company.
Akpe expressed dissatisfaction with Oando‘s handling of the matter and urged the company to cooperate with the Ministry of Mineral Resources, security agencies and other relevant stakeholders to find an amicable solution.
Bayelsa Government Warns Against Road Blockades, Pipeline Damage
The deputy governor warned that blocking access roads and damaging oil infrastructure would ultimately hurt the communities and the wider state.
“Road blocks will not solve any problem. They will rather cause more harm than good for you,” Akpe said.
He also warned residents against damaging pipelines, noting that oil spills could destroy farmlands, rivers and fish stocks while creating long-term economic and environmental consequences for the affected communities.
“Let’s not also burst pipelines because the oil that is spilled will destroy our farmlands, our rivers and fishes. It is we that will ultimately bear the economic, social and environmental cost,” he said.
Akpe called on the traditional leadership of Biseni to help coordinate the grievances of the communities and ensure that they are channelled through the appropriate government institutions.
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He gave the communities until the following Friday to submit a comprehensive compilation of their concerns to his office for further engagement.
“But please don’t ever go to block any road again,” the deputy governor told the community leaders.
Yenagoa Council Chairman Defends Biseni Grievances
The Chairman of Yenagoa Local Government Council, Hon. Bulodisiye Ndiwari, said the grievances raised by the Biseni communities were legitimate.
Ndiwari attributed the concerns to what he described as the alleged failure of oil companies to implement agreements reached with their host communities.
He described the roads used by oil companies to access their facilities in Biseni as dangerous and in poor condition.
According to him, the condition of the roads contributed to the decision by residents to block them in protest against Oando Plc and Renaissance Africa Energy Company.
The council chairman said the communities were demanding the reconstruction of the deplorable roads.
Oando Explains Position on Biseni Road
Speaking on behalf of Oando Plc, the company’s Lands Manager, Sir Okechukwu Onuemize, said the company’s position had consistently been to rehabilitate the bad sections of the road.
Onuemize said the company had not agreed to a complete reconstruction of the entire road as demanded by the communities.
The difference in positions between the company and the communities remains one of the issues the state government wants the Ministry of Mineral Resources to address through further engagement.
Biseni Traditional Ruler Backs Government
The Acting Clan Head of Biseni, His Royal Highness Williams Wariebi, supported the state government’s position and appealed to residents to stop the repeated blocking of access roads.
Wariebi urged the people to pursue dialogue and other peaceful channels to resolve their grievances, saying this would be in the best interest of Biseni Clan and the wider Bayelsa State.
The meeting ended with a commitment by the government to facilitate further discussions between Oando Plc and the affected communities while urging all parties to maintain peace and keep oil facilities and access routes open.
