Monarchs of host communities along the Eastern Corridor of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) have called on the Federal Government to take the welfare of the communities seriously so as to guarantee the safety of the pipelines.

The monarchs who spoke at the stakeholders’ engagement meeting by Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) for its host communities of Rivers, Abia and Imo States held in Port Harcourt, noted that lately the Federal Government has been recording increase in oil output from the lines courtesy of the job of PINL but lamented that the increases have not affected the lives of the host communities.

The royal fathers also called for the empowerment of the traditional institution to enable them perform their duties better.

Making the call, Paramount Ruler in the Emohua area of the state, His Majesty, Eze Sergeant Awuse noted that the well-being of the people must be taken seriously for maximum peace in the areas and increased output.

“No amount of dramatisation here will give us peace if the government doesn’t look into the welfare of the area where these incomes are taken from. The well-being of our people is more important. This oil is our own, “he said.

Also speaking, the Coordinator, Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, King Samuel Nnee, said people of the host communities deserve better dividends from the resources on their soil.

“It has not been easy with traditional rulers because in our respective communities when you have bad boys they say we are responsible. When the government wants to confront traditional rulers or the evil deeds of our people they say traditional rulers know all the people that are bad without thinking that the children- most of them, who are well-educated; deserve the good things of life which the government has refused to provide for them. So I want to say that the government should help our communities, “Nnee appealed.

Speaking on behalf of the youths, Comrade Legborsi Yamaabana of the Coalition of Niger Delta Ethnic Youth Leaders, said youths of the region were happy with PINL’s mode of operations especially in the monthly engagement of communities and relevant stakeholders. (THE NATION)