ACTUALIZING NDOKWA DEVELOPMENT NEEDS THROUGH UNITY

It greaves my heart, been that the people of Ukwuani and Ndosumili are still pleading with the government to extend the needed electricity and other infrastructures that hastens the development of a people and their society. This is sixty five years after Nigeria attained her flag independence and over sixty (60) years of oil and gas exploration and exploitation in Ndokwa land . 

My spirit was uplifted when Senator Ovie Omo-Agege visited our Ndokwa people and promised to do something about electricity step down from the IPP, shore protection in Ndokwa East, establishment of a federal university, and the need to know the production quantum of oil and gas companies in Ndokwa land. He did his best to achieve these and his efforts are well documented. His efforts on the IPP step down in kwale was an impetus to my attending two meetings arranged by Transmission Company Of Nigeria (TCN) at Asaba, and at Loccocoon Hotel, kwale .

It is really painful and shameful that our people, at this age and time, have no electricity in their homes. I remember that it was around 1971 or 1972, that the then Midwest State government, under the leadership of then (late) Col Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, commissioned the Rural Electricity Board (REB) generator which generated electricity for kwale. Same was done for Agbor at almost same day. People were happy and the era of kerosene cooled fridges came to an end. This served for a time until it lost her glory.

It is also painful to observe that some of our people are "fighting" themselves on approaches to getting Ndokwa Nation electrified. This, as I learned was because of political interest - as interpreted by some people. Why disagree, or fight over what is really in our common interest ? To me, organizing peaceful rallies that would strongly attract the attention of governments ( Federal and state) and development conscious entities to take a look and act on our plight is a positive action that should get the support of everyone !

It is shameful that we are denied of electricity, constant and regular electricity, when the facilities to achieve it are available in abundance.

Ndokwa land has contributed so much, and is still contributing to the economic growth of Nigeria, and ought to be a well developed area swimming in standard modern infrastructures.

As you are aware, Utagba -Ogbe (kwale) is one of the premier host communities for oil and gas production in the Niger Delta region. Our land is home to the largest - natural gas reserves in the West African subregion, alongside significant crude oil deposits that have been actively exploited since the mid 1960s . Despite the environmental degradation, oil pollution, and the toll of drilling activities on our limited infrastructure, our communities have remained peaceful, law abiding, and resilient in the face of long standing deprivations, marginalization, and underdevelopment .

Imagine that we are hosts to the following oil and gas producing companies, including: 

a) Oando (formerly NAOC)

b) Platform Petroleum Ltd

c) Midwestern Oil and Gas company limited 

d) Chorus Energy 

e) Pillar Oil ltd

f) Sterling Exploration and Energy production company (SEEPCO)

g)Ashtravinayak (major producers of industrial and cooking gas)

h)OPAC- 10,000 bpd capacity refinery 

I) Proposed 20,000 bpd refinery by Midwestern oil 

J)X energy and Nidogas Kwale Gas Gathering plant KGG

K)Chorus Energy Gas processing plant 

L)Axeela Gas processing plant (under construction)

m) Pillar Gas processing plant (in view)

It should be noted that the gross oil production capacity of these eight oil companies exceeds 100,000 barrels per day .

Additionally , KGG processes 300 million cubic feet of gas daily, while the LPG plant owned by sterling global produces 700,000 tons of LPG daily for the Nigerian clean energy eco-system .

You cannot beat a child and expect the child not to cry. So, these massive contribution by Ndokwa Nation without being recognized in terms of infrastructural development, employment, and other social responsibilities expected of the government and the companies has given rise to the rally and may be, restiveness if nothing appreciable is done by the authority .

Ojieh N Felix 

Triple chief and palace chief of Utagba -Ogbe kingdom