By Williams Odunze
In a move to foster a peaceful atmosphere in the Oil Producing communities in Imo State, the Commissioner for Niger Delta Affairs/Intelligence, Prince Henry Okafor, has called on the youths of the Oil rich region to shun acts of violence and criminal activities such as Oil Bunkering and Pipeline vandalisation that are capable of causing low product out put.
The commissioner made the call during A One-day Imo Niger Delta Stakeholders/Leaders Meeting held , Tuesday, July 10 in Owerri the State Capital.
The Meeting had as it’s theme; “Fight Against Illegal Oil Bunkering, Illegal Oil Refining And All Forms Of Criminality In The Niger Delta Areas Of Imo State; Development And Wellbeing Of The Imo Niger Delta People”.
Okafor appealed to the Youths to often remain peaceful and law-abiding so that the plans of government towards holistic development of the area can be easily actualized.
The Commissioner maintained that Socio- economic development cannot thrive in a hostile environment.
“Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs is standing for the owners of the land where Oil Companies operate. We are to defend and speak for their welfare. We are not for politics, we are here to put heads together, find solution to the real challenges faced by our people”, Okafor added.
In his remarks, Chairman of the event, former Inspector General of Police and former Chairman, Police Service Commission, Chief Mike Okiro, stated that the meeting was germane because it would effectively strengthen the effort towards mitigating plights of the Oil Producing Communities.
Okiro pointed out that with Prince Okafor heading the said Ministry there would be hope for the people at the end of the tunnel.
He opined that this is the first time such a Ministry would be created to solely look into the needs of the host communities and arrest their challenges, squarely.
In his contribution, Christian Onyekachi, who hails from Agwa community in Oguta LGA, noted that the major problem host communities face is the selfish activities of the Oil Companies operating in the area who he added do not consider the collective welfare and interests of the host communities, hence underdevelopment, poverty, restiveness and oil vandalism persist.
Onyekachi also accused the Oil Multinationals of concentrating majorly on drilling and milking dry the natural resources belonging to the people without due attention to their needs such as bad roads, decaying school structures, lack of electricity, non-payment of bursaries to students, youths, women empowerment, non- overseas or home internships/scholarships for youths, unemployment, among others.
He went on to remarked that the only way Oil pipeline Vandalism could be abrogated is when Oil Companies start meeting their Corporate Social Responsibilities to the land owners and host communities with government doing the needful as well.
Commissioner for Petroleum, Emeka Ngbudem, past members of Imo State House of Assembly traditional rulers, women, youths and student union leaders, among others, attended the meeting.
