October 5, (THEWILL) – Members of Host Communities of Nigeria producing oil and gas, Bayelsa state chapter, have asked that they be included in the oil and gas surveillance and security contract as contained in the petroleum industry act.
Speaking Tuesday in Yenagoa, during an advocacy visit to the president of the Ijaw nation congress, Benjamin Okaba, the chairman of HOSTCOM, pastor Samson Debby Graham, also called on the Bayelsa state government to establish the Bayelsa state oil producing development commission as it done in other oil-producing states maintaining that BASOPADEC commission has passed through all the necessary processes in the state.
Making his speech, the chairman pleaded with the INC president to help the group secure the training of HOSTCOM 1,000 youths at the Nigeria content development and monitoring board.
He, however, assured the president that there are no issues between their group and any other group per se.
He continued, ”We in HOSTCOM Bayelsa state humbly request for your support and facilitation of the establishment of BASOPADEC commission. The bill which has passed through the required stages should be passed into law. The inclusion of HOSTCOM in the surveillance and security of oil and gas facilities as contained in the petroleum industry act should be implemented.
“Also, help us secure the training of 1,000 youths with the Nigerian content development and monitoring board.
Responding, the INC president assured them that he was solidly behind them, maintaining that they want to exterminate the people of the region so that they will have free access to the oil and gas resources.
Stating that HOSTCOM is one of the most vibrant organisations in the region, he advised that no Ijaw man should cause any form of disunity, maintaining that any Ijaw man that causes disunity will go down.
He regretted that NNPC awarded road construction contracts in the country without including any road on Ijaw land.
He said “It is very unfortunate that NNPC awarded roads contracts in other places without anyone in Bayelsa. They have used PIA to take over our resources. They are now trying to use the water resources bill to take over our waters.
“The battle ahead of us is bigger than the battle in the past but I’m assuring all that if we speak in one voice, we will win.
About the Author
