A pressure group, 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 Tantata Security Services Limited to enable them impact more on communities in Ekpeye ethnic nation in Ahoada East, Rivers State.

National Chairman of the group, Comrade Chidi Dogoni , spoke at a one day sensitization programme at Rubitess Event Center, Ahoada.

Dogini 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.

According to him, despite being a host to several oil wells and pipelines, there was no meaningful benefits from the oil industry until the engagement of both companies that have employed several youths in the area.

Dogini, who thanked President Tinubu for ensuring continuation of the surveillance contracts to PINL and Tantata security Services Limited.

His words: "Let it be on record that Ekpeye remains a major producer of oil and gas in the Niger Delta. We host over eight to ten licencees and we have 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 Tantata security services.

“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.”

According to him, research showed that unemployment was a major factor that was responsible for cultism and criminal activities by youths in the area, and 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.

“Today, the story has changed, where over 600 to 1000 youths have been gainfully employed through PINL and Tantata security services.

“It is a thing of joy that our people are now smiling. All those you see in this hall can testify that they have been gainfully employed . That is why the crime rate in Ekpeye land has reduced . You cannot see the issue of cutting someone’s head of killing, because those who were supposed to do that have been gainfully employed and going about their normal assignments,” he added.

Dogini,who attributed the increased oil production in the country from 700,000 barrels per day to 1.8 to 2 million barrels per day, to the surveillance jobs by the companies, thanked the Director for Energy, Office of the National Security Advisor, who changed the system and ensured smooth operations.

The EOG president further thanked President Tinubu for the various development initiatives aimed at uplifting the living standard of the people of the Niger Delta.

He said for the first time in the history of oil and gas exploitation in the land.the Ekpeye people were happy and promised to distribute Christmas items for the communities.

Dogini also used the event to call on the government to include youths from Ekpeye extraction to the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) to enable their integration.

“I want to call on the Federal Government that it should expedite action on the amnesty programme we have been requesting for. It should be concluded so that those who want to reconcile with people in our various communities would feel free so that we can have a win win society,” he added

He further stated "Take It to heart that Ekpeye is a place to do business. It is one of the major hosts of oil and gas in the Niger Delta but is being neglected.

“I also want to call on the federal government that in the next formation of the Niger Delta Development Commission Board, Ekpeye should be carried along, because no son of the land has been appointed. If not we seem not to be fully involved in the industry . We have over sixty oil wells across Ekpeye land and that is a cause for us to be fully involved in the oil business.

“They cannot say that Ekpeye is not contributing and all this while, there has been no interruption of production, we protect the federal government facilities and ensure nothing happens to them .

“The issue of vandalism is a thing of the past in Ekpeye, hardly would you see such. That means we are working and we want the Federal Government to see our plight and know that we have reciprocated what they have done.”

The EOG Chairman also said the essence of the Trust Fund from the Petroleum Industry Act, was to provide social amenities for host communities and not for self aggrandizement of communities representatives in the boards.

He appreciated participants for their attendance and support.

In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion,Barrister Richard Ukpeni Ewoh said there were issues in the oil and gas industry the people were not aware of and that the event was to deliberate on such issues and chart a way forward.

The event was attended by traditional rulers, CDC chairmen, women leaders and youths from various communities.