Bayelsa Warns Oil-Bearing Communities Against Violence

Oil-bearing communities, hosting multi-national oil companies in Bayelsa, have been warned against acts of violence capable of disrupting the operations of the oil companies.
The state's Commissioner for Energy, Mr Francis Ikio, gave the warning last week at a meeting between government, communities and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).
Other stakeholders at the meeting were Geomarine Systems Ltd and representatives of host communities of OML 66. The meeting was held at the Conference Hall of Ididie Hotel in Yenagoa.

Oil-bearing communities, hosting multi-national oil companies in Bayelsa, have been warned against acts of violence capable of disrupting the operations of the oil companies.
The state's Commissioner for Energy, Mr Francis Ikio, gave the warning last week at a meeting between government, communities and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).
Other stakeholders at the meeting were Geomarine Systems Ltd and representatives of host communities of OML 66. The meeting was held at the Conference Hall of Ididie Hotel in Yenagoa.
Ikoi said that government placed high premium on the maintenance of peace, advising host communities of OML 66 around the Nembe/Brass axis of the state to channel whatever grievances they had to the appropriate government authority.
The commissioner advised the oil companies and their host communities to see each other as development partners.
He assured the communities that government would ensure that a thorough Environmental Impact Assessment was carried out by the oil companies before commencement of work in the area.
Ikio told the oil companies to always protect the environment in which they operated, advising them not to abdicate their corporate social responsibilities by applying the same standard as obtained in their home countries.
The Project Manager of the NPDC, Mr Steve Ogunowo, who called for cooperation from the host communities, thanked the communities involved for sending full representation to the meeting.
He described the development as a sign of good things to come.
Ogunowo, however, appealed to the communities to liaise with the company whenever the company fell short of its responsibilities.
Also speaking, the Managing Director, Geomarine System Ltd, Chief Nma Okezie, said his firm was engaged by the NPCD to carry out seismic service in the area, cutting across Nembe and Brass Local Government Areas of the state.
Okezie described Geomarine as an indigenous company based in Port Harcourt with track record of environmental and human friendly operations.
He assured that during their operations both skilled and unskilled workers would be absorbed from the communities and that compensation would be duly paid where necessary.
Okezie called for understanding from the communities, stressing that the company would not disappoint nor fail in its obligations.
The representative of the commandant of the JTF in the state, Lt.-Cmdr. I.C. Ketebu, described security of life and property as the bedrock of any development.
The commandant urged both the communities and the company to work together to ensure peace in the area.
Also in attendance at the meeting were representatives of the state's Commissioner of Police and the Director of the SSS in the state.