Bayelsa State deputy governor, Dr. Peter Akpe, has called on the Akenfa community in Yenagoa Local Government Area to discontinue its protest against Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited (RAECL) over the non-completion of the link bridge project.
Akpe, who made the call at a meeting with the leadership of the Akenfa community at Government House, Yenagoa, urged communities to always seek peaceful means of addressing issues, rather than resorting to frequent disruption of oil production activities in their areas.
Sympathising with the community over its plight due to the non-completion of the project, the deputy governor, however, blamed the tripartite committee set up last year by his predecessor for not carrying out its assignment.
Akpe said although it was the first time the issue had been brought to his notice since he assumed office as deputy governor, he would work with other stakeholders to ensure the resumption and completion of the project.
He also assured the community that he would personally reach out to the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to ascertain the status of the project, following its official handover by the state government to the agency in 2025.
His words: ‘Embarking on demonstrations and creating blockades to public facilities is not the best option to undertake in order to elicit government’s attention to address your grievances.
‘Dialogue remains the best option for seeking concrete resolution because even when you fight, you will still come back to the settlement table.
‘I am aware of the official communication to the NDDC by the state government handing over the Akenfa bridge project to the agency. So, the solution to this problem is not to stop the operations of the oil company operating in your community.
‘As a people, you should always be guided by laws and not take the law into your hands. We sympathise with the Akenfa community for your suffering due to the non-completion of that project. But let me assure you that we will interface with the NDDC to do the needful.’
In her contribution, Commissioner for Information, Strategy and Orientation, Mrs. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, recalled what transpired at the meeting held on December 4, last year, presided over by the late deputy governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
She said the government informed the Akenfa community of the official handover of the project back to the NDDC, adding that to ensure the resumption of work on the project, a steering committee comprising the Akenfa community, NDDC and government was constituted at the meeting.
She listed members of the committee to include the state NDDC representative, Senator Deinyabofa Dimaro; Commissioner for Special Duties (Central), Mr. Mandy Akpallo; and Chief Dikivie Ikiogha.
Others are the Technical Adviser to the Governor on NDDC Matters, Mr. Kuro Nyenye; Chief Isiya Albert; Secretary to the Akenfa community, Mr. Wilson Mumeya; youth president, Mr. Moses Izibekiebo; as well as an engineer to be nominated by the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.
Earlier in their remarks, the paramount ruler of Akenfa, Chief Josiah Osom Obadiah, and another stakeholder, Mr. Wilson Mumeya, attributed the latest protest to the suffering occasioned by the abandonment of the project, which was started in 2010, following an alleged agreement between the NDDC and RAECL.
They expressed gratitude to the deputy governor for his timely intervention, which they noted had given the community a glimmer of hope.