Imo state Governor Hope Uzodinma has called on Oil Companies in Nigeria to establish social and infrastructural facilities such as good roads, standard hospitals, health centers, and electricity to the host communities as well as training that provides education which will in future allow Nigerians and the host communities to take over the management of such companies.
He stated this when he received, the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Petroleum and Industry Bill led by Senator Albert Bassey Akpan at the Government House Owerri.
The committee was in Imo State to meet with the host communities and learn about their unique issues, which will be incorporated into the bill before it is sent to the Senate and House of Representatives for consideration.
Governor Hope also urged Nigerian Oil and Gas Operators to avoid enacting different laws and regulations, adding that the results obtained in Nigeria by all standards should not be different from what it is in other climes.
“I have advised on the effective management of Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Resources in the interest of the people, given that it is the mainstay of our economy for now”
“The following were my remarks when we received in audience, the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Petroleum and Industry Bill led by Senator Albert Bassey Akpan at the Government House Owerri”
“The Operators of Nigeria Oil and Gas should desist from making different laws and regulations for Nigeria alone. What is obtained in Nigeria by all standards should not be different from what it is in other climes”
“Again, Oil Companies must be patriotic enough to treat our people right, hence, it is worrisome that the Petroleum Industry Act which is 45 years old is still without amendment in Nigeria when both the Country, the host communities, and the economy have undergone several changes”
“On the challenges faced by host Communities, I maintained that both the Communities, the Government and the Oil Operators need to sit down and look at the modus operandi as it is obtainable all over the world – Europe, America, and Asia, for instance, and see how to create a value chain that will allow for a patriotic partnership”
“I also admonished on the need for the Oil Companies and the host Communities to agree on the establishment of social and infrastructural facilities such as good roads, standard hospitals, and health centers, electricity to the host communities as well as training that provides education which will in future allow Nigerians and the host communities to take over the management of such companies”
“Furthermore, I enjoined lawmakers to make the provision of social facilities and corporate social responsibility for the communities a must in the proposed annual budget of the Oil Companies and see such as part of their oversight functions such that when that is achieved, the host communities will be happy and there will be relative peace in those communities”
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“However, I warned host communities against using their God-given natural resources to create enmity and divide the communities into fighting themselves. To the traditional rulers of the host communities, I enjoined them to stop the bickering among themselves but devote their time to asking for social facilities that will be long lasting and beneficial to them and their generations yet unborn” the Governor.
Recall that Ohaji-Egbema is an oil-rich Local Government Area in Imo State, with major oil-producing and-service companies including Shell Nigeria, Chevron Corporation, Agip, and others.
