By Frank Momoh
The Federal Government has urged international oil companies operating in the Niger Delta region to get closer to the communities
to address issues bordering on environmental degradation corporate social responsibilities.
In a statement, Mr. Edet Etuk, who is the Chief Press Secretary to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang, said his boss made the call at the resolution meeting to resolve the issues on the shutdown of oil production on OML 16 in Obosi and Omoku communities, Rivers State to avert its adverse effect on the nations dwindling economy.
According to Enang, the meeting was scheduled to assess the implementation of the resolution meeting held on February 27th 2020 in Port Harcourt which directed the Nigerian Agip Oil Company NAOC to treat the Obosi community as well as any other communities, according to the facilities, installations and production from the particular community or cluster and not by proxy.
The Presidential Aide reinstated the position of the resolution held in Port Harcourt which also mandated the NAOC, operator of NNPC/NAOC/OANDO, joint ventures and indeed all oil companies operating in the Niger Delta to review the understandings they have with their host communities. Adding that this will reduce the incidence of production shut down with attendant negative impacts on the Nigeria economy.
He noted that the meeting is not addressing traditional institutions or traditions in Omoku or Ogba community because it is not within its jurisdiction. Adding that the Federal government of Nigeria will not allow the disruption of the economy of the country through irreconcilable differences between the host communities and International oil companies.
The SSA, however, advice the people of Obosi and all the communities in Omoku and Ogba Kingdom including all the oil producing communities that it is not proper to engage in obstruction and destruction of economic activities at a time when the global oil price is lowering with growing challenges.
He further pointed out that with lowering of Nigeria quota production by OPEC and the heavy problems of economy at a greater dimension and proportion call for concern by all the stakeholders because according to him, revenue from oil and gas transaction and the sustainable peace of the Niger Delta Region is strategic for the implementation of government policies and programmes at all levels.
According to Enang, federal government will ensure that Oil companies, Oil servicing companies, the government and its interventionists agencies treat the people and communities in a manner that will show that they are the people that lay the golden egg that is feeding the economy of Nigeria.
He commended the Armed Forces for their professionalism in managing the Community Relations crises in the Niger Delta Region.