Group calls for greater attention to oil, gas communities

A group, Swamp Area Oil and Gas Producing Communities Association in Bayelsa State, has called on the federal and state governments as well as multinationals to pay greater attention to the development of oil and gas communities
The group which met in Yenagoa, the state capital, decried the economic woes faced by such communities as result of oil spill and other environmental hazards.
Victor Igbaba, chairman of the group described as “criminal” the neglect of oil bearing communities when viewed against their huge contributions to the national economy.
Igbaba, together with about 300 monarchs who attended the meeting, queried the attitude of multinational companies over the implementation of memorandum of understanding (MoU) entered into with various communities in the Niger Delta region. He stressed that the newly established association has resolved to task the Federal Government, state government and multinationals on development of the communities and youth employment.
According to him, the association is pushing to ensure that pipelines surveillance jobs are given to community youths who know every inch of pipelines in their area for greater security of oil facilities.
Igbaba pointed out that most surveillance contracts are awarded to individuals without any knowledge of the area hence the increasing cases of pipelines vandalisation, bunkering and theft.
He also canvassed for the establishment of a refinery in the state to provide job opportunities for youths to counter the negative effects of illegal refining of crude oil with grave consequences for personal health and the environment.
“The Federal Government and the state government should work towards putting an end to illegal refineries. They should urgently establish an oil refinery in the state,” said Igbaba.
He declared the association’s readiness to work with security agencies operating in the state including the Joint Task Force (JTF), Nigerian Navy and Police among others to curtail economic crimes in the state.
Also speaking, Warren Jessy, the welfare officer of the group, said that in line with the association’s drive for sustainable development; youths in coastal communities are being given opportunities to establish small businesses.
Jessy said the opportunities in fish farming, snail breeding, animal husbandry, palm produce, plantain farming, rice farming and paint manufacture among others are aimed at addressing the challenges of economic crimes.