Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas, HOSCON, has called on the Federal Government to fashion out deliberate integration policies that will truly give the people of the Niger-Delta and all critical stakeholders a more deep involvement in the oil and gas industry .
The Chairman of HOSCON and Ovie of the Great Idjerhe Kingdom, King Obukowho Monday Whiskey, the Udurhie I, stated this at his palace while briefing newsmen on the state of the nation , including national security, Tantita security project, ,sea ports, job creation, roads, and the Presidential Amnesty Programme,
He posited that true involvement of the people of the region in the oil and gas industry will not only guarantee greater security and inclusiveness in planning and execution of valuable developmental projects for the region but in final analysis help to greatly empower and adequately integrate the people in the main stream of the oil and gas industry.
The traditional ruler stated further, ”The President Bola Alhmed Tunubu led administration as true democrat must restore the human dignity of the people by carrying out sustainable and visible transformative projects that will not only stand the test of time but must be testimonial in decade to come.
”The true supports of the people of the Niger-Delta that has encouraged the free flow of crude oil and gas must be deliberately appreciated through visible, appreciable governmental policies and programmes that are sustainable and visible. Policies that are people oriented and will stand as legacy projects of President Bola Alhmed Tunubu led administration. The Federal Government must embark on deliberate roads, rails and water transportations programmes that will make movement in the Niger-Delta region easier than what it is now”
The Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas, Chairman said the leadership of HOSCON and its traditional rulers council were impressed with the performances of the Tantita Security Nigeria Limited in safeguarding oil and gas installations , resulting in high crude oil and gas production .
”The Leadership of the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas, HOSCON and its Traditional Council wish to express its implicit confidence on the leadership of Tantita Security Nigeria Limited for the visible and laudable performances that is today responsible for high crude oil and gas production and the ongoing rapid restoration of cleaner water body, return of aquatic lives and restoration of hitherto degraded environment”, Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom stated.
He called on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgent national importance to expand the operational scope of Tantita Security project , saying it had proven all critics wrong by helping in adequately securing critical national asset and greatly helping in restoring cleaner water body and aquatic lives back to the region.
Continuing , he said, ”Apart from huge employment of thousands of able body youths today, Tantita security is greatly helping in environmental restoration and to increase crude oil and gas production.
On national security, the Idjerhe Monarch who noted with concern the myriad of security challenges facing the country, urged the Federal Government to look inward by allocating constitutional roles for Traditional Rulers , insisting that they remain the closest to grassroot and have consistently shown traditional methods of addressing insecurity in their various Kingdoms especially across the 774 Local Government Area in Nigeria.
He stressed the urgent need for Federal Government to intensify efforts at ensuring the full utilization of Sapele, Warri, Burutu, Koko, Onne and the deep Ibom seaports all in the South – South zone , which according to him, have the capacities of creating numerous jobs and giving great relieve to the roads in the South – South zone of the country.
On the Presidential Amnesty Programme, the Chairman, Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas said they were deeply concerned about the unnecessary wrangling trailing the leadership of the programme .
He urged the Federal Government to encourage the Dr. Dennis Otuaro led Presidential Amnesty Programme to ensure that the laudable programmes been initiated by the Special Adviser to the President on Niger-Delta Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme are sustained and improved upon.
”As critical stakeholders in the Niger-Delta project, we have carried out very detailed analysis and professional investigation into the activities of the Presidential Amnesty Programme and we are happy to report that of a truth no coordinator of the programme from inception has taken this bold and courageous step like Dr. Dennis Otuaro is currently doing”
”All ongoing sponsored protests and unfounded allegations against the programme are deeply orchestrated by enemies of the programme who want the old negative order to continue. All genuine advocates of the region who have reasonable suggestions should reach out to the Critical Stakeholders like the Royal Fathers and the other notable figures in the region. The current massive investment of the programme on education is capable of turning the future of our youths to greater productivity and educational advancement and any one working against the success of the programme are doing so for selfish reasons”, he stated
The press briefing which was also attended by a retinue of traditional rulers and the elders advisory council featured questions and answers session .
