A pressure group under the auspices of the Oil and Gas Host Communities Development Council, OGHCDC has inaugurated its Bayelsa State chapter with a mandate to demand for the rights and ensure that the privileges of the oil and gas host and bearing communities are given to them.
The group has amongst its aims to collaborate with federal, state, local government, Donors agencies and Host community development trusts (HCDTs) to ensure the seamless and smooth implementation of the PIA, adding that this will be achieved through sensitization and third Party monitoring and evaluation (M&E ) as a volunteer.
The National President of the group, Prof. Prosper Ayawei in an inaugural address in Yenagoa, Bayelsa stated that OGHCDC is strategically positioned to contribute to the development and well-being of oil bearing communities by carrying out strategic sustainable research and development in the oil and gas industry and make recommendations to the relevant authorities in addition to enhance adequate due diligence for both local and international oil and gas deald and pacts.
Ayawei further stated that the Council will also link members to impactful and value adding local and international conferences, events, workshops and smyposia for unprecedented synergy and symbiosis as well as sponsor scholarships within and outside the country of outstanding students from the oil and gas host communities in the undergraduates and postgraduates studies related to only oil and gas industry.
He noted that the OGHCDC has the Governing Council as its highest policy body, the national leadership structure, the regional leadership structure, the state executive management committee and the local government leadership structure and the new media (virtual) platform managef by the Board of Administrators.
He raised serious concerns on the activities of the international oil and gas companies in Nigeria adding that ” we advise that the administrators particular the OICs should adequately engage the beneficiary communities in the felt need assessment to develop their blue prints and stop deliberately putting bottle necks in the release of funds for the implementation of very cogent jobs.
“To the HCDTS, Please be discrete with implementation of the PIA, It is an assignment of uttermost trust and should not be trivialized.
“it is unfair for the international oil companies to diversify and abandon the host communities they have been operating without proper remediation and or compensation.
“It is a proven fact that the exposure to the emissions of flaring has adverse health effects such as cancer, lung damage and skin problems. Flaring releases oil pollutants and particulate matter in the form of soot, which results in poor air quality is hazardous to health. From 1956 when oil was found in Oloibiri in Present Bayelsa state till date gas had been flared in Nigeria non stop and health Hazard fine is been paid since then to the federal Government ,that Money should be released or used for developmental Purposes in the region for ameliorate of the damage so far caused.
“The 13 per cent derivation fund comes from the federation revenue to oil-producing communities through the state Governments as enshrined in section 162, sub-section 2 of the Nigerian constitution. This council encourages all states who have not complied in implementing the law by having the needed commission to address the needs of the oil-producing communities should do so as soon as possible.
“It is therefore worth while for all players to play this game circumspectly and in absolute synergy. Let us come together as an indivisible force to work together and build the oil and gas communities and Nigeria at large.
“Unity and effective leadership are perquisite to sustainable community development strength lies in differences, not in similarities. We are each other’s harvest; we are each other’s business; we are each other’s magnitude and bond. When spiders unite, they can tie down a lion. Unity is strength, division is weakness. United we stand and divided we fail and fall,.”
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