His Imperial Majesty, Eze Amb. Kelvin Anugwo JP, Eze Ekpeye Logbo III, has called on the Ekpeye people to unite and overcome internal divisions to effectively address the lingering challenges posed by decades of oil exploration in their land.
The monarch made the appeal during a sensitisation programme entitled “Proper Utilization of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) Host Communities Trust Fund and the Contribution of Pipeline Surveillance in the Reduction of Insecurity in Ekpeye Land,” organised by Ekpeye Oil & Gas (EOG) in Ahoada town.
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Represented by HRH Roland Ebaledhi, his Chief of Staff, Eze Anugwo lamented the lack of tangible development despite years of oil activities, pointing to poor infrastructure and severe environmental degradation.
“We are the problem of our problems,” he declared, blaming selfish interests and divisions for stalling progress.
He urged Ekpeye sons and daughters to set aside differences and present a united front.
The royal father commended Comrade Chidi Dogini, Chairman of Ekpeye Oil & Gas, as well as Tantita Security Services Limited and Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, for their efforts in curbing crime and employing over 1,000 local youths in pipeline surveillance roles.
He stressed the need for oil-related jobs and opportunities to prioritise indigenes, noting that thousands of unemployed Ekpeye graduates roam the streets.
The monarch pledged his palace’s support for initiatives fostering unity and development in the oil sector.
In his welcome address, EOG National Chairman Comrade Chidi Dogini thanked Eze Anugwo for his unwavering encouragement.
He described the programme as timely, aimed at dispelling misconceptions about the PIA and ensuring maximum benefits for Ekpeye communities.
Dogini highlighted the ethnic nation’s substantial contribution to Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, hosting eight oil licences, over 10 pipelines, and two delivery lines, yet receiving inadequate rewards.
He praised Tantita and Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited for engaging local youths, which he said has reduced unemployment by 70 per cent and linked job creation to declining insecurity.
Dogini thanked the federal government for enabling a conducive environment for oil operations and renewed calls for greater Ekpeye participation in the industry, including appointments to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board.
Delivering a lecture on communities’ role in ending insecurity, Zonal Head of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Augustine Bello, echoed the call for unity to strengthen Ekpeye’s voice in the oil industry.
Bello warned youths against vandalising oil facilities, saying such acts cause irreversible environmental damage, and emphasised sustainable engagement for long-term development.
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