Poverty, Pirates, Protest: Locals Seize Nigeria Flow Station

For 37 years a community in Nigeria's southern Rivers state has lived in the shadow of an oil pipeline transit station run by Shell's local subsidiary Image source: arabic.sputniknews.com

The people of Belema village can only be reached after a three-hour journey aboard a rickety makeshift speedboat from the nearest major town.

SPDC has warned the illegal occupation of Belema Flow Station and Gas Plant in Rivers State has safety implications both for the people at the facilities and nearby communities

Despite the enormous natural riches that surround them, locals in a Nigeria oil hub say they have not shared in the explosion of wealth that black gold has brought the country

AFP report continues:

For 37 years their community in Nigeria's southern Rivers state has lived in the shadow of an oil pipeline transit station run by Shell's local subsidiary.

Despite the enormous natural riches that pass them by, locals say they have not shared in the explosion of wealth that black gold has brought to Nigeria.

The country exported petroleum products worth US$27.8 billion (€23.1 billion) in 2016 alone, according to OPEC, and is Africa's largest oil producer and exporter.

But Belema residents still rely on an unhygienic open-air well for drinking water, while a complete lack of medical facilities means the sick have to be ferried to Abonnema -- a boat journey of three hours.

On August 11, local reached breaking point.

Frustrated with the dire situation in the area, hundreds of people stormed the nearby Shell flow station, demanding the Anglo-Dutch oil giant leave the area over its alleged failure to improve their lives.

The occupying protesters -- 550 women and 350 men -- work in shifts to maintain a constant presence, according to local chief Evans Dabiri.

The protest raises the spectre of the militant campaign of recent years against oil infrastructure in the region that slashed output and caused chaos in the sector.

That violence was eventually tempered after successful but lengthy negotiations with the armed groups angered by the unbalanced distribution of oil riches.

- 'Shell has overstayed' -

"Shell has overstayed their welcome here for 37 years -- and we have not benefited anything from them," Dabiri said.

"Tell us what they have done there in the past 37 years.

"We are in no hurry to leave this flow station as we will be here until Shell hands (it) over."

He explained to AFP the occupiers want the critical piece of Nigeria's oil infrastructure transferred to a local company.

At the station, women with canopies, mattresses and sleeping mats took turns guarding the site, cooking for the other protesters and entertaining themselves.

The action prompted the army to deploy 30 extra soldiers to monitor the situation, according to a State Security agent.

Shell insists it has invested in social welfare and created jobs -- efforts it says were frustrated by local power struggles.

"Legal tussles and disputes among the oil-producing communities (have) made it impossible for Shell to implement planned development projects for the communities," said Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria's (SPDC) external relations manager Igo Weli.

Shell still managed to invest ₦600 million (US$1.7 million) to improve schools, infrastructure and health provision in both Belema and neighbouring Kula in the past 10 years, he added.

The community has none the less suffered from chronic neglect and been preyed upon by pirates who cruise the regions' waterways in search of boats and valuables.

- 'At the mercy of sea pirates' -

"We are at the mercy of sea pirates who lay siege on the waterways as they rob our people," said Dabiri.

The pirates, undeterred by at least six military checkpoints that dot the route from Abonnema to Belema, continue to operate with impunity.

Shell is now warning the extended occupation at the flow station could be endangering not just the protesters, but other communities in the region.

"SPDC is deeply concerned that unauthorized persons -- including women and children -- have been observed in close proximity to equipment... without the protection of safety clothing," said SPDC spokesman Joseph Obari in a statement.

He said there was a heightened risk of an oil spill or fire as a result of the protest action because engineers had been unable to prepare machinery for a long-term shutdown.

However there is growing optimism at Shell that the occupation will soon be brought to a peaceful end.

The state oil company NNPC, local leaders and Shell have brokered a deal that could lead to the reopening of the site, according to a traditional chief in the area.

"We have succeeded in reaching a truce with NNPC," said Godson Egbelekro. "Within this week there will be a joint inspection... after which we will withdraw all our subjects from the facility. Then SPDC can resume operation."

But the community's demand that the station be handed to a local company will go unfulfilled -- at least for now.

"As far as (the NNPC) are concerned, SPDC is still the company running that facility," said Egbelekro.

"There is machinery in motion for the handover of the flow station (back to Shell)."

SPDC JV Raises Alarm Over Safety Risks From Illegal Occupation Of Belema Oil And Gas Facilities

The illegal occupation of Belema Flow Station and Gas Plant in Rivers State has safety implications both for the people at the facilities and nearby communities, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) has warned.

Since August 11, some persons have camped out day and night at the two facilities.

In a statement on Sunday, SPDC said it was “deeply concerned that unauthorized persons, including women and children, have been observed in close proximity to equipment that process crude oil and gas without the protection of safety clothing that is mandatory for people working in or accessing such restricted areas.”

SPDC had carried out an emergency shutdown of production ahead of the illegal occupation, but has been unable to access the facilities since then to ensure a safe shutdown over a prolonged period. “The continued illegal occupation for many days exposes people at the plant to higher safety risks as anything could trigger a spill or fire with potentially serious consequences,” the company warned.

Meanwhile, SPDC remains committed to the development of the Niger Delta especially host communities including Belema and Kula. The SPDC JV partners have contributed US$29b to the economic growth of Nigeria between 2012–2016. The SPDC JV is also currently supporting various GMoU Cluster Development Boards in the Niger Delta and mentoring NGOs to deploy a total of ₦7 billion for development projects of host communities’ choice under the GMoU programme.