A group, Jesse Height Development Association, JHDA, Monday issued a 90-day ultimatum to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC Limited in partnership with the Pipeline Product Marketing Company, PPMC to return to site without any delay and upgrade as well as complete the abandoned Jesse 22-Bed Hospital Project in Jesse Town, Ethiope-West Local Government Area of Delta State.
The group said the companies should ensure the commissioning of the project in their land within the next six months of the notice.
The group’s Executive Secretary, Austin Aghomi handed down the ultimatum in a statement signed and made available to Media Talk Africa.
He said it would deploy all lawful means to compel the NNPC Ltd/PPMC to compensate the people of Idjerhe Kingdom and neighbouring Communities if the companies fail to heed to their demands.
“JHDA, backed by the FOI Act is also asking the project sponsor, NNPC Ltd/PPMC to avail us an update report on the project, detailing the contractors, extent of job done, level of mobilization and excuses for abandonment as it is indefensible to blame it on lack of funds for so long.”
The project which was awarded by the NNPC in partnership with PPMC has been abandoned for over 24 years after approval.
The project was informed by a five day tragic inferno just as the Jesse Pipeline Petrol Disaster broke out 18th October, 1998. Over 1098 people from different walks of life across Nigeria were roasted.
According to the group, “The People of Idjerhe Kingdom (Jesse) and neighbouring communities with over 20 oil wells, and flow station providing close to 100,000 barrels of crude oil per day and earning hundreds of millions and trillions of dollars for the Federal Government of Nigeria annually, have remained peaceful and nonviolent in the face of NNPC/PPMC inviting neglect of such a sensitive project NNPC for this long with impunity.”
