The Rivers State House of Assembly says Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, SPDC, must pay compensation for 800 houses earmarked for demolition in Umuebule community, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.

House Committee Chairman on Petitions and Public Complaints, Evans Bipi, had presented a committee report on threats to demolished over 800 houses in Umuebule community allegedly by SPDC through the State Ministry of Physical and Urban Development, without agreed compensation to property owners.

Bipi, who is also the Chief Whip of the House, said Shell has refused to appear before the committee despite numerous invitations, adding that the committee has recommended that SPDC should pay for all the properties marked for demolition.
“Mr. Speaker, the recommendations are there. The Rivers State Government itself intervened in the matter in 2015 and 2016 through the office of the secretary to the state government.

“The Umuebule people, some of them have been compensated while Shell wants to use all their powers to do away with the people without compensating the rest of the people,” Bipi said. Speaker of the House, Ikunyi Owaji-Ibani, while commending the committee for the report, warned SPDC to honour the House invitation, to address the matter.

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Source: SweetCrudeReports