Former Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Maikanti Baru explaining issues to President Muhammadu Buhari during the ceremonial Spud-in (drilling) of Kolmani River II Well, in Barambu community, Alkaeri Local Government Area, between Bauchi and Gombe.
One of the major causes of conflicts in oil rich Niger Delta of Nigeria between the government and indigenes had been delays and apparent denials in compensation and there are fears that it has started to rear its head in Bauchi State where exploration was flagged off by President Muhammadu Buhari recently.
Otherwise, grounds for the kind of youth restiveness known for oil communities in Niger Delta are avoidably being staged in the sleepy community of Bauchi where endless search for hydrocarbons had been flagged off.
Recall that president Muhammadu Buhari weekend, flagged off the Spud-in of Kolmani River-II Well Gongola Basin, Upper Benue Trough.
During the flag off, members of Barambu and other neighbouring communities in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State expressed disappointments over delays in compensating them for their farmlands.
The communities affected by the oil prospecting expressed their reservations while speaking on the side of the flag-off ceremony on Saturday, lamenting that despite almost three years of vigorous oil prospecting activities in the area which directly affected their farming activities and their livelihoods, they are yet to be compensated.
They, therefore, called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to pay compensation for their land being used for the exploration in the area.
The community leaders explained that for over three years, their farmlands were taken and they were promised compensation but nothing was given to any of them and many of them no longer have farmlands to cultivate crops.
One of the affected farmers, Ladi Naboth lamented that they have been left without any means of livelihood since most of them rely on farming.
Whereas checks show that for now, NNPC has no community development plans for the affected community and has remained mute on issues of compensating the landowners, a trajectory to invitation of avoidable conflict with the indigenes.
