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Fighting for a voice in Akala-Olu

The Akala-Olu gas flare bellows out a continuous plume of thick smoke across the surrounding area.

>> View our slideshow of life in Akala-Olu

It is also home to the Akala-Olu gas flare owned by the Nigerian Oil Company AGIP which bellows out a continuous plume of thick smoke across the surrounding area.

Despite hosting the AGIP ‘facilities', the community lacks basic social amenities, particularly potable water.

"Look at our community, no real development, much poverty, even the farming is not yielding much". Says ABN Igbeke, the president of the community association.

There is much discontent between the community and AGIP and no formal arrangement between the people of Akala-Olu and the oil company currently exists, let alone any legally binding agreement. Since the expiry of a previous Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2004 they have had little influence or say in what goes on with the gas flare or other AGIP activities. Tensions sometimes run high.

SDN has been training people in Akala Olu in advocacy skills as part of their Local Action for Community Empowerment project (LACE) working with partner organisation the Sustainable Peace Initiative Nigeria (SPIN) .

After receiving the advocacy training, the community leaders led their own training workshops for at least twenty community members.

During the training the people in Akala Olu said that since the AGIP oil company began extracting oil in the area it had neglected the community. They said that no development projects had been successfully implemented and maintained since AGIP began operation in the area some years ago.

"AGIP has actually neglected us since 2004, no project has been implemented in this community even the ones started by them has been abandoned, the proposed health centre is without equipments and drugs, the school is yet to be completed, and many others. It takes hours for a sick man or woman to get medical attention. Our problems are enormous; especially lack of social amenities and it is as if we did not exist in the eyes of the authorities." Said Chief Saturday Alimini, the Community Development Committee Chairman.

The issue of illiteracy among the youth of the community was also a hot topic. "We are unable to go school even when we get the mind to because there is no money, AGIP did not give us scholarship. Government did not give us scholarship that is why some of us cannot read nor write." Says Chisal Emmanuel, a youth leader in Akala Olu.

As well as lack of healthcare and education another major issue for the community is water. The bore hole that was sunk by AGIP for the community stopped working some time ago and instead of repairing it, AGIP chose to deliver water by tanker, much less than the community needs. This has made some community members angry.

Super Odum, the Deputy Youth president, emphasized the need for the oil company to rise up to its responsibilities: "To me I think the key to having solutions to these problems is if a new and comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the community and AGIP is written and implemented accordingly. Did you not see the gas flare site as you enter our community? We know that this is causing serious problems to our people especially their health".

The people believe that since AGIP operates in the community and is directly responsible for the gas flares that it should be the main target of their advocacy efforts. The oil company is well equipped to provide the needs identified and also has a moral social responsibility to act.

The community maintained that all their problems could be resolved if there was a General Memorandum of Understanding (GMOU) with AGIP on what they should get in return for the ongoing presence of the gas flare.

According to Chief Saturday: "All we want is the GMOU. The importance of GMOU cannot be overemphasized".

The youth of the community identified the Community Development Committee (CDC), the Women's Group, the Chief, and his Council of Elders as groups to work with to renew the agreement of understanding with AGIP.

By getting their heads together, the community advocacy team is making serious efforts, "I have written several letters to AGIP, have written to the State Governor, and the senator representing our constituency on this particular issue." says the youth president, Igbeke ABN.

Through the workshops, trainings and discussions, the community has vowed to continue to push for a General Memorandum of Understanding with the oil company around the issues of gas flaring, health, education and water.

But whether or not AGIP or their elected representatives are listening is another matter...

>> Read more about gas flaring in Nigeria