Trustees rise against oil theft, pipeline vandalism in Rivers community

The Board of Trustees of the Krakrama Host Community Development Trust in Asari Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State has vowed to end acts of economic sabotage, including oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the area.

The pledge came as it inaugurated the Krakama Host Community Trust Fund Management Committee, aimed at harnessing the benefits of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.

The committee is aimed at eliminating disagreements that may arise between the host community and their tenants, being the companies operating in their area.

Krakama is one of the communities under the Oil Mining Lease 18, operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the inauguration in Port Harcourt, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Ibinabo Warmate, said the board will ensure improved relations between the people and the companies.

Warmate stated, “One of the major things I hope to achieve is employment for the youths and also ensure that there is no vandalism of those pipelines or oil theft in our territory.

“Those things we have assured the settlors that we’ll try our best to ensure that we stop all those illegal activities in our terrain. Majorly is employment, infrastructural development, scholarship and other basic things.

“These are some of the things we will make sure we achieve through the need assessment plan.”

Pledging the commitment of the committee to effectively discharge its duties, he said, “With this inauguration in place today, we have achieved amongst the six boards, I think we are the first to have set up the management committee.

“We are going forward and with this, I am sure that the future of the community is very bright. The management committee we inaugurated today, mainly you have seen that they are men of substance.

“They are learned people, educated. We have a bursar in their midst. We have a legal practitioner, who has been practising for over 20 years plus. We have an accountant in their midst who has transversed almost all the areas of learning.

“He’s an accountant and he has gotten so many areas of discipline, so I believe that much is expected from them by the members of the community. I know they will do well. I trust they will do well.”

The Lead/Secretary of the Management Committee, Simiepiri Paul, assured that the committee would work assiduously to ensure that the objectives of the PIA are achieved.

He enthused, “It is a thing of joy. You know, this is the first of its kind since the signing of the Petroleum Industry Act and the setting up of organs related to the Host Community Development Trust in the PIA.

“We are elated because, as a people, we’re moving forward. There is a trajectory of host communities and oil companies interface that has developed for some time now and at some point in time there has been one disagreement or the other.

“There are no specified and laid down procedures in which things are run. But now we have a code, a central code in which everybody, including the settlor, the oil companies, the host communities, will come together and agree on issues. It will be a wonderful interface. I am looking forward to it.”

He however said it is a huge responsibility given to the committee because “we appear to be those that will manage the very basics of this process of the PIA, host community and settlors relationship, projects, things that will bring the community to where it ought to be as oil-bearing community.

“Things that will make life better for the downtrodden in the community, it will not be as usual as though some persons would just go, cart away things, you can’t account for it. This thing is codified, it has procedures; everybody is accountable one way or the other.”

In his remarks, Krakrama Surveillance Contractor, Chief Ginah Jabin, noted his readiness to work with security operatives in the area to mitigate oil theft and vandalism, saying he will utilize his vast knowledge of the creeks.

He said, “I’m the contractor chosen by Krakrama. So, I’m assuring the entire community and the country at large and the NNPCL, that if they give me this contract, there will not be vandalisation. I’m giving 100 per cent assurance, with me they are covered.

“Nobody can penetrate and touch those things. I was born and brought up in Krakrama. I know all the creeks. I’m a fisherman. Before, I fished for 18 good years in my life inside that creek, inside the swamp. So those vandalizers know where they will pass when I enter that place.”

Earlier in his speech, the paramount ruler of Krakrama and its satellite communities, His Royal Highness, Iwari Bala, advised the management committee to work as a team and desist from criticism in other to put the community’s interest first.

Bala, who was represented by the paramount head of Okubo’s House, Chief Adokiye Okubo, urged members of the Krakrama community to encourage the management committee by supporting them always.

South-South PUNCH correspondent reports that the Krakrama Community Management Committee consists of three executive members and six non-executive members.