OLOIBIRI; THE NEGLECTED TREASURE BASE OF NIGERIA

BY AYODELE REUBEN

OLOIBIRI WELL

January 15 1956, will remain a watershed in Nigeria history. It was the day Nigeria first commercial oil was discovered at Otuabaji/Otuogadi in Oloibiri a small town in the present day Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State.

Oloibiri to many young Nigerians might not ring bell like places such as Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, Calabar etc. But it was the community where the black gold was discovered.

Oloibiri lay the foundation for Nigeria present day national wealth that is the crude oil which  is now been shared by the elites and multi-national companies. The discovery of oil in this neglected paradise of  Oloibiri which use to have close to 15000 inhabitants in its early days of crude oil discovery have been reduce to presently nothing less than 300 people.

Because of the decay of social and economic infrastructure in this small Ijaw community and so many other communities in the Niger Delta region. The inhabitant of Oloibiri were  victim of past government neglects and fails promises. The treasure base of Nigeria economic prosperity have become the most abuse and neglected part of this country, this community has been plug back into development regression, and their ancestral home, farm and their only sources of livelihood water have been contaminated and taken over by government.

Empty promises by government have not alleviated the suffering in Oloibiri this community that lay the golden egg should be developed, viable, sustainable and productive,programmes should be introduce. Amnesty programmed is not the solution, because amnesty programmed only target young men and women who have carried armed against the Nigeria  state in the past. The zoning  of Nigeria presidency to Niger delta region under president Goodluck Jonathan have little or no impact to the oil rich Niger-delta region. This decay in the Niger delta is so rampaging that mere political allotment of position or appointment is not enough

The incoming administration of General Muhammadu Buhari, should make adequate provision and sustainable programs for the oil producing communities’ in Nigeria, enabling law should be put in place to stop environmental degradation. No amount of compensation can be enough considering the number of person who has lost their lives during the fight and struggle to discover the first Nigeria commercial viable oil deposit in West African.

Like an adage says ”any river that forget it source will surely dry up”. I pray Nigeria crude oil reserve will not dry off before we remember the suffering of oil producing communities in Nigeria.