Others commended included the Vice Chairman of Senate Committee on Gas Resources for the commitment toward the construction of Oil and Gas Research Institute/Museum in Otabagi Community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, where Crude Oil was first struck in commercial quantity in the whole of West Africa in 1956.

The Union stated: “In the interest of realizing this laudable project which this body and the Otabagi Community have severely clamoured for, the Otabagi Progressive Union do not want the Federal Government to play into the hands of Companies which cannot capably deliver the project on record time and in line with specifications, but should award the project to a Company with requisite credentials with the input of the Union.

“The Otabagi Community is more than ready to give every necessary support and cooperation to the Federal Government toward realizing this laudable project.”

It added: “This project when completed will alleviate the pitiable plight of Otabagi Community, which hosts OML 29 Oil field – being the cradle of Nigeria Wealth but have been subjected to suffer under utter neglect and abandonment by successive Governments at all levels. Thank You Sirs as we look forward for the actualization of this project.”

Previously, Orubo Ogisama, a youth leader, Otuabagi community, host community to Oloibiri Well I, had said: “Well, we feel blessed but it is somehow regrettable because of the pathetic and undeveloped nature of our community, Otuabagi. The Federal Government left the place undeveloped and until date, there is nothing to show that here is the cradle of the nation’s oil and gas industry, a place that launched Nigeria into the league of oil producing nations.

“No, that is not correct. Then Oloibiri was the district headquarters and when the white people came, they only knew Oloibiri where they resided and not Otuabagi, the original property owners of Olobiri oil well I. The oil well was named after Oloibiri, and the same pattern was adopted in naming other oil wells.

“The place was very nice and socioeconomic activities was booming in the area of operation and the camp of the oil workers. It was only recently that the tanks around the oil wells locations were sold and the people that bought them came and removed them. Today, the community is in a parlours state of neglect. It is very shameful to tell somebody outside Bayelsa that you are from Otuabagi where crude oil was first discovered in commercial quantity and landlords of the Oloibiri Oil Well I.

“Our people are living in abject poverty. We have a good number of unemployed graduates that should be employed by oil companies and government agencies. We do not want to take the laws into our hands and embark on violent protest. I can speak authoritatively that Otuabagi people have not benefitted from the federal government.”

“Our people are predominantly farming and fishing folks. However, the two occupations were affected when Nigeria started oil exploration and production. The state government has not also done enough because we have not yet felt the impact of the 13 per cent derivation.

“Today, we are faced by insecurity in the sense that our youths are jobless. The state of public facilities, including the primary school is very bad. No normal person will send his or her child to that kind of school. The buildings are dilapidated. Another challenge is crime. I had to take my mother to Yenagoa because of upsurge in crime. The few farmers in the community are complaining that their crops are being stolen leaving them without harvest.

“I know President Muhammadu Buhari is a good man. Also, now that we have the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, in office,  I believe that ‘something’ can be done because he is very familiar with the real issues and this is the best time for him to act.”