Ekpeye Oil and Gas Host Families Association (EOG) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to allocate oil blocks to Pipelines Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) and Tantita Security Services Limited to enable them impact on communities in the Ekpeye ethnic nation in Ahoada East, Rivers State, and the Niger Delta as a whole.
Speaking at a one-day sensitization program at Rubitess Event Center, Ahoada, National Chairman of the group, Chidi Dogoni, explained that through the engagement of the surveillance companies to secure oil infrastructure in their area by the federal government, the Ekpeye people are, for the first time benefiting from oil and gas deposits in their land.
He said that despite being a host to several oil wells and pipelines, there were no meaningful benefits from the oil industry until the engagement of both companies that have employed several youths in the area.
Dogini thanked Tinubu for ensuring the continuation of the surveillance contracts to PINL and Tantata Security Services Limited.
“Let it be on record that Ekpeye remains a major producer of oil and gas in the Niger Delta. We host over eight to 10 licences, and we have a criss-cross of pipelines all over Ekpeye.
“Ekpeye has seven to eight pipelines; we have two trunk lines, so Ekpeye is a major player in the oil and gas industry.
“It is so appalling that our people have not benefited from the industry if not for PINL and Tantita security services.
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“With the many oil blocks across Ekpeye land, with all the licenses we have, we are saying PINL and Tantata Security Services Limited should be given further assignments by awarding oil blocks to them so that they can continue.
“Because from the capacity they have shown, if they have the opportunity to operate oil mining leases, and other federal government operational licenses, they will do more.
“Tantita and PINL have shown that there is more to oil and gas. If it were left to the hands of the multinationals, we would not have known the benefits of oil and gas.
“Through them, we have come to realize that God has deposited something in Ekpeye land,” he said.
Dogini stated that research showed that unemployment was a major factor that is responsible for cultism and criminal activities by youths in the area.
He said that he had to form a pressure group, the EOG, which agitated and pressurized the Federal government to engage youths in the area in oil and gas-related jobs
He appreciated both companies for the impact they have made in the area, adding that the engagement of youths had led to a decrease in crime.
