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From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Traditional rulers of host communities along the Eastern Corridor of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) have called on the federal government to take seriously the welfare of the communities to guarantee the safety of the pipelines.
The monarchs spoke at the stakeholders’ engagement meeting by Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) for its host communities of Rivers, Abia and Imo States held in Port Harcourt at the weekend.
They noted that lately, the Federal Government has been recording increase in oil output from the lines courtesy of the job of PINL, but lamented that the increase have not affected the lives of the host communities.
The monarchs also called for the empowerment of the traditional institution to enable them perform their duties better.
Leading the call, His Majesty, Eze Sergeant Awuse, Paramount Ruler of Emohua in Rivers State, said the well-being of the people must be taken paramount for maximum peace in the areas and increased output.
Awuse said: “You have been announcing increase in production, but are there improvements in the welfares of the people of the areas? How much improvement do we have?
“No amount of dramatisation here will give us peace if the government don’t look into the welfare of the area where these incomes are taken from. The well-being of our people are more important. This oil is our own.”
He continued: “Every community would say those who are going to break the pipelines are from your community. How much more ability do we have as traditional rulers? How much power do we think we have?
“Pass our message to the government. Tell them it is time to not only put it into law and give authority to the traditional rulers, but it’s time to implement it because if you don’t implement it, nothing will happen.”
On his part, the Coordinator, Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, King Samuel Nnee, said people of the host communities deserve better dividends from the resources on their soil.
He decried the notion that traditional rulers are usually aware of the activities of suspected vandals in communities, urging the government and security agencies to up their games in ensuring peace in the communities.
“It has not been easy with traditional rulers because in our respective communities when you have bad boys, they say we are responsible. When government wants to confront traditional rulers or the evil deeds of our people, they say traditional rulers know all the people that are bad without thinking that the children- most of them, who are well educated; deserve the good things of life which government has refused to provide for them. So, I want to say that the government should help our communities, ” Nnee appealed.
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On the responsibility to protect the pipelines and other critical assets, the monarch said Niger Delta kings need improved empowerment from the government at all levels to better perform that responsibility.
“I want to call on the agencies of government to care for the kings because we mean well for them. We’ll join you in this battle, but if we are hungry, we might not be able to do it more effectively.
While lauding PINL for recognizing the place of the traditional institution in their operations, he called on the traditional institution in the Niger Delta not to neglect their primary function of protecting lives and all critical assets in their domain despite not getting enough support from the authorities.
Speaking on behalf of the youths, Comrade Legborsi Yamaabana who is the the spokesperson, Coalition of Niger Delta Ethnic Youth Leaders, said youths of the region were happy with PINL’s mode of operations especially in the monthly engagement of communities and relevant stakeholders.
Yamaabana noted that the company’s successes could be attributed to its people-oriented strategies, urging the government to give the company more responsibility.
On her part, Patricia Ogbonnaya, who spoke on behalf of the Eze Ekpeye Logbo, King Kevin Anugwo, appealed to the Federal Government to retain the services of PINL because of their operational competence.
She pointed out that the company has identified with the host communities which has resulted in maximum production output.
Earlier in his address, the General Manager, Community Relations and Stakeholders Engagement of PINL, Akpos Mezeh, announced that the company has finalised plans to kick start the empowerment of 2000 women from the host communities.
Mezeh, said the programme was focused on small business development, financial literacy, and skills training for women and girls in the host communities.
“The PINL Women Entrepreneurs & Empowerment Initiative has completed data capturing, conducted in Port Harcourt for host communities in Abia, Imo, and Rivers States, and Yenagoa for Bayelsa communities. This program focuses on small business development, financial literacy, and skills training for women and girls,” Mezeh said.
He stated that verification of data had just been completed and beneficiaries soon to be contacted.
“Through the PINL Women’s Skills Development and Enterprise Program, 2,000 women are being targeted for empowerment before the year’s end”, Akpos declared.
