By Awesome Ekene
Anambra State government has cautioned against acts capable of instigating crisis in the oil host communities in the state.
Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Barr. Anthony Ifeanya gave the warning on Thursday in Awka during a town hall meeting on implementation of host communities provisions in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in the state.
The 2-day meeting organised by African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development and stakeholders and International Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre (IPCRC) attracted representatives from government, civil society, oil-producing communities and traditional institutions.
Ifeanya underscored the place of peace between the oil companies and host communities to ensure the benefits of the God-given natural resources to the communities would be actualized.
He said: “There is need for peace between the oil companies and the host communities so that the benefits of the God-given natural resources to the communities will be to their advantage.
“It is in the atmosphere of peace that there would be progress. That is the only time they would derive benefit, and get the things they are supposed to get for the betterment of the people.
“But when there is crisis, it will cause problem both for the oil companies and the communities. We are trying to enlighten both parties on their rights, duties and liabilities under the Petroleum Industries Acts (PIA) so each partner will know its own obligations.
“By this engagement, we want the oil companies to know what is expected of them to do for the host communities while they are doing their business and for the host communities to know what they are expecting from the oil companies that are doing business in their place to yield peaceful coexistence.”
Appreciating the Centre LSD for being in the state to educate the people on issues on the oil sector, Ifeatu expressed optimism that the intervention would go a long way to preventing repeat of ugly experiences in Niger Delta.
Executive Director of Centre LSD, Monday Osasah described the meeting as significant step towards ensuring that petroleum resources benefitted the host communities.
“We won’t have it better than this. Petroleum should be a blessing to us, not a curse,” he added.
Executive Secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr Orji Orji, while speaking on “Expectations from Host Communities and Roles of Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) in PIA highlighted the agency’s role in promoting transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s extractive industries.
Orji, represented by Director, Policy Planning and Strategy, Dr Dieter Bassi said the Agency was committed to ensuring that revenues were properly accounted for and utilized.
Earlier, President, IPCRC, Prince Chris Azor said the engagement was targeted at discussing the effective implementation of Host Communities’ Provisions in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) with the desire for peace, security and sustainable development.
He listed expected outcomes of the meeting to include: improved understanding of PIA and Host Communities’ Provisions, enhanced stakeholder engagement as well as collaboration, identification of priority areas, clarifications and action plan.
