Pipelines Surveillance Contract: Ijaw oil producing communities back Tompolo
…Thanks PMB for 3% PIA allocation to crude oil producing host communities
By Faith Madogwe
IZON-EBE Oil and Gas Producing Communities Association, has joined the league of communities, groups and associations that have backed and congratulated the former leader of the defunct Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo, on the recent pipelines Surveillance Contract awarded him by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited.
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The Association which is made up of all the Ijaw oil and gas producing communities in Niger Delta sent in their congratulatory message via release dated Thursday September 8, 2022 and signed by Archbishop (Dr.) Joseph Irawo and Mr. Donatus Collins Marerebo, president and Secretary respectively.
While congratulating the former agitator turned Ambassador, the group in a related development thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the 3% allocation to Host Communities in the Niger Delta as captured in the recently passed and assented Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
The community leaders expressed unflinching trust in Tompolo’s capacity to sustainably stop illegal bunkering, illegal refining, and other forms of oil theft in the Niger Delta which has badly hit Federal Government’s ability to generate dollar revenue from its main source, which is the export of crude oil?
“President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan led Federal Government had in the 2012 awarded a similar contract to him(Tompolo), he perfumed perfectly well, and have no doubt that he will perform excellently well in the present circumstance’
“Aside from stopping crude oil sabotage and crude oil siphoning rackets and other criminal gangs, the community dwellers explained that they are particularly happy that the programme (pipelines Surveillance Contract) will create youth employment and develop a climate of sustainable future and innovation in the Niger Delta region.
According to them, the contract will definitely promote sustained and inclusive economic growth, social development and environmental protection as these men and women to be employed from various communities in Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Rivers, Imo and other Niger Delta states will benefit from the project and have their salaries paid directly into their bank accounts.
The group therefore, called on Ijaw sons and daughter to put heads together to see to the success of this contract as it is for the good of the Niger Delta as a whole.
As to the 3% allocation to the Oil producing host communities, the group reiterated their belief that, if well utilized, it will usher in a new Niger Delta laced with coordinated development.
“However, even as we thank Mr. President for his concerted efforts towards the development and restoration of peace in the region, we in the vein call on him to do more in the area of youth employment in ways that will develop a climate of sustainable future and innovation.
“We are in dire straits because unemployment has diverse implications. Security wise, large unemployed youth population is a threat to the security of the few that are employed. Any transformation agenda that does not have job creation at the centre of its programme will take us nowhere” the Group concluded.
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