Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, has assured the host communities of oil and gas companies in the state that his administration would ensure that their lands are not polluted by the activities of oil production.
He gave the assurance during the inauguration of Maxwell Nwaghara and other executive members of the Abia State chapter of the Oil and Gas Host Communities Committee.
The Governor, who observed that many of the oil-producing communities in Abia and the Niger Delta at large are in terrible conditions and cannot boast of meaningful development over the past 60 years despite producing the oil that lubricates the nation’s economy, emphasized his commitment to change the status quo.
According to him, the era of waste in oil and gas is over, as his administration will ensure that the benefits of oil and gas are delivered to the communities, including economic prosperity, environmental protection, and social equity.
The Executive Governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Professor Joel Ogbonna, said that his administration has taken bold steps to protect the interests of host communities in the state through initiatives such as the Abia State Industrial and Innovation Park, the building of a modular refinery at Owaza, and the payment of compensation to landowners, among others.
“The oil and gas sector is supposed to bring economic prosperity, environmental protection, and social equity, but if you come around the Niger Delta or even in Abia State, where this oil is being produced, economic prosperity and environmental protection are not evident,” he said.
“The land is gone, the water is gone, and the air is polluted,” the Governor lamented.
He, however, assured the host communities in Abia State that oil companies operating in their areas have been directed to show what they have done for the host communities and to implement local content policies by giving 70% of jobs to the indigenes of the community.
He further announced that oil production has increased from about 8,000 barrels per day to about 34,000 in the state, attributing the achievements to the peace, control, and watchfulness of his administration.
He noted that the executives of the Host Communities of Oil and Gas were not imposed by the Abia State government but were elected by the people.
In his speech while inaugurating the Abia State Executive Committee, the National President of the Oil and Gas Host Communities, Benjamin Style, who was represented by the National Vice Chairman, Ibinabo Sanipe, appealed to the Federal Government and the state government to pay attention to the pains and sufferings of the host communities.
He also urged the inaugurated executives to carry everyone along and to work closely with the state government in achieving the desired goals in the interests of host communities.
In his vote of thanks, the elected chairman, Mr. Maxwell Nwaghara, appreciated the Governor for the good works he is doing in the state by keeping his campaign promises.
Nwaghara said his tenure would collaborate with the government to bring the dividends of democracy to host communities producing oil and gas, emphasizing that the host community is not a political association but supports any government in power.
He further charged his executive members to carry out their duties with dignity and work for the growth of their community, as this administration has zero tolerance for corruption.
