Nigeria— The people of Boutubo Community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, are spoiling for a showdown with Shell Petroleum Development Company, and its contractors, over alleged marginalisation and neglect in the repair of the Trans Ramos pipeline in their area.

Chairman of the community, Mr. Afidi Ebiarede, who addressed newsmen in Warri, yesterday, accused the contracting firm and its sub-contractor of undermining his community in the execution of the project.

He said that the companies had concluded plans to commence work without the community’s  Freedom To Operation, FTO, and due consultation with its leaders as was the norm in such projects, warning that the plot could truncate the repair of the pipeline, which conveys crude to the Forcados Terminal of Shell.

The chairman noted that it is wrong for the company to carry on without consulting the leadership of his community and the executive as it is the norm in such projects in the Niger Delta adding that they cannot guarantee the safety of the companies’ staffs and equipments if they carry on without first obtaining the FTO in their community.