Don’t instigate crisis in oil host communities – Anambra govt warns

Anambra State Government has issued a stern warning against acts capable of instigating crisis in the oil host communities in the state.

The state’s Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Mr Anthony Ifeanya, gave the warning on Thursday in Awka during a town hall meeting with stakeholders.

The meeting, organized by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development and International Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre, IPCRC, centered on the implementation of host communities’ provisions in the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, in the state.

Ifeanya stressed that peace between oil companies and host communities was crucial in ensuring the actualisation of benefits from natural resources.

“It is only in an atmosphere of peace that progress can be made,” he said.

According to the commissioner, the meeting aimed to enlighten both parties on their rights, duties, and liabilities under the PIA, ensuring peaceful coexistence, appreciating the centre for educating the people, saying that such intervention would go a long way in preventing the repeat of ugly experiences recorded in the Niger Delta.

Also speaking, the Executive Director, African Centre for Leadership, Mr Monday Osasah, described the meeting as a significant step towards ensuring that petroleum resources were beneficial to the host communities.

“Petroleum should be a blessing to us, not a curse,” he added.

In his presentation, the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, Dr Orji Orji, said the agency promoted transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s extractive industries.

Orji, represented by the Director, Policy Planning and Strategy NEITI, Dr Dieter Bassi, said the agency was committed to ensure that revenues were properly accounted for and utilized.

Earlier, Mr Chris Azor, the President, IPCRC, said the meeting was targeted at discussing the effective implementation of Host Communities’ provisions in the PIA to ensure peace, security, and sustainable development.

Azor said there was a need for improved understanding of PIA, enhanced stakeholders’ engagement, identification of priority areas, clarifications, and action plans for effective implementation.