Stakeholders shun oil and gas engagement in Delta

An engagement forum organized for stakeholders in the oil and gas industry on Monday December 19 in Effurun, Delta State by Gas Alert for Sustainable Initiative, GASIN in collaboration with National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA was shunned by key players in the industry such as Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC and Nigerian Gas Company, NGC, Fresh Angle International can report. 

Our Editorial Assistant/Special Projects’ Correspondent, who covered the forum reports that three host communities: Oviri-Ogor, Edjekota and Unenuhurhie expressed displeasure at the non-participation of prominent oil and gas companies in the one-day event, describing it as a show of disregard for their Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the four hours jaw-jaw, the participants, including officials from Federal Ministry of Environment, NOSDRA, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC and Host Communities of oil and gas firms, called for strengthened relationship between host communities, oil operators and regulators.

The communiqué also enjoined host communities to promptly report spills in their environment to the appropriate authorities, especially NOSDRA, just as it admonished the communities to play critical roles in the protection of oil and gas facilities.

Cross section of participants at the forum

Fresh Angle International can also report that another vital outcome of the one-day summit with the theme: ‘Towards a Sustainable Relationship Between Oil Operators and Host Communities: The Role of Government, Oil Operators and Host Communities,’ is the imperative for Conflict Resolution Office in Delta State as well as Security Agencies to wade into the issues of cattle herdsmen and local farmers.

They tasked oil operators to adhere to the dictates of Memorandum of Understanding, MoU entered with them, even as they called on DESOPADEC as well as NDDC to carry out development projects in the oil and gas producing/impacted communities.

The communiqué was signed by representative of Edjekota Community- Evang. Johnmark Omologbo, representative of Oviri-Ogor- Mr. Egbe Obukohwo, representative of Unenuhurhie- Mr. Joseph Ugbugbede, representative of NOSDRA- Nwakwushie Felicity, representative of Federal Ministry of Environment, FMENV- Clara Anunobi, representative of HRM Okiemute Onajite Igere I, Ovie of Ogor Kingdom, Chief Emmanuel Igbogidi and representatives of the Press.

GASIN Executive Director, Rev. (Fr.) Edward Obi addressing participants at the forum

The Executive Director of GASIN, Rev. (Fr.) Edward Obi, an Environmentalist, while disclosing that similar stakeholders meetings were held in Rivers and Bayelsa States, explained that the absence of key stakeholders in Delta State may be due to reasonable engagements.

The Division Head of Community Development and Public Enlightenment of DESOPADEC, Mr. Gbubemi Okome while speaking on the demand of the communities for medical personnel in the commission’s constructed Health Centres, stated that there was need for the host communities to synergize with their Local Government Chairmen to compliment the effort of DESOPADEC, since primary health care is under the purview of Local Government Councils.

Mr. Gbubemi Okome addressing the host communities during the forum

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