By Sunday Apah / Special Correspondent, Ughelli
Peace, Development, Security and Humanitarian Rights Association of Niger Delta (PDSHRA) has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to direct relevant agencies to embark on rapid infrastructure development of the Niger Delta region.
The group made the plea in a letter to President Jonathan dated May 26, 2014 and entitled, “Niger Delta region and its oil producing communities lack basic amenities”.
Signed by its president, Mike J.K Tiemo, and acting secretary, Clement Ehimen, the group demanded the establishment of three refineries in the Niger Delta, and to be directly managed, controlled and supervised by oil producing communities.
The group explained that establishing the three refineries will create employment, boost economic activities and infrastructure development in the region and the people who have suffered due to oil companies exploration, exploitation and exportation of crude oil in the region.
The leaders also demanded for construction of motorable roads and bridges linking the Niger- Delta region, from Warri to Escravos, Bomadi Burutu Ogulagha, Koko Ogheye, and Gbokoda Itsekiri to Opuama Tsekelewu in Delta State and Awoye Ikorigho to Ugbonla and Igbokoda Ilaje, a bridge from Agadagba to Arogbo in Ondo State to connect Ogun and Lagos states.
They appealed to the Federal Government to establish federal polytechnic and provide Gas Turbine for electricity, portable drinking water in the mostly affected and devastated riverine oil producing and non – oil producing communities.
“We also call for the relocation of all the multinational oil companies and their contracting firms head offices and operational office to the Niger Delta region where the crude oil is being produced, to give the people sense of belonging to the end the cry of marginalization”
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