BAYELSA OIL COMMUNITIES WANT DEVT COMMISSION
OLAMILEKAN LARTEY,
YENAGOA[image]

Oil and Gas producing communities in Bayelsa State have called on the government to establish a development commission in order to accelerate the development of the mainly oil rich riverside areas of the state.

Working under the areas of the Host Communities producing  oil and gas, Bayelsa  State Chapter, the communities said on Saturday that they had come together to see how they could benefit from the petroleum  industry bill when it was passed into law.

Chairman of HOSCOM, Chief Bob Nabena, said it was “now the time to use the wisdom  of God and modern techniques  to fight their cause now that a true son of the Niger Delta  had been elevated to the position of president” .

Nabena said oil producing communities had suffered for long and must, therefore, come together to chart course to development.

The goal of the communities is for them to set aside any distractive squabbles and produce an equitable selection that will represent their respective communities irrespective of any court litigation or dispute,” he said.

He said when the PIB came into law it would ensure the fair treatment for host communities to operators in the industry.

“It is in this connection that both the presidency as well as HOSCOM National directed that we get organized in preparation to access these benefits when they come and also to be proactive and put in place the capacity to actualize the dream of having Bayelsa State oil producing Area Development Commission.

He said despite the payment of 13 and 10 per cent derivation paid as money for oil and gas producing communities, nothing got to the suffering people of the areas. This is what HOSCOM is out to fight for, we have to use the modern day war fare-to make our points, because we are out to ensure peace in the cause of fighting for this course.”

“We are guaranteeing that we will not fight again in the creeks, we will not break pipelines again, and we will not be restive again he said.

[img][/img]