Delta committed to sustainable peace in oil producing communities -- Otuaro ~ Truth Reporters

Delta State Government on Monday reiterated its commitment to sustaining existing peace in oil producing communities.

The State Deputy Governor, Deacon Kingsley Otuaro disclosed this when he held a closed door meeting with executive members of the Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Forum at the Government House Annex in Warri.

Briefing Journalists after the meeting, Otuaro said the meeting was in continuation of his peace building mandate with key stakeholders in the oil producing communities and multinational oil companies operating in the state.

He said that the meeting was part of government's routine efforts to review and articulate issues bothering the host communities.

Otuaro disclosed that they deliberated and resolved to mutually harness the economic potentials that abound in the oil operating environment.

The Deputy Governor noted that Egbema and Gbaramatu communities are hosts to Chevron Nigeria Limited and the meeting afforded them the opportunity to discusss some security concerns in the areas.

Otuaro said there is no threat to peace and security in the oil operating environment in the state as government has institutionalized measures to resolve conflicts.

He charged oil producing communities to key into the conflict resolution strategy established by the state government to address grievances.

The Chairman of the Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Forum, Mr Jude Ukori described the meeting as apt and commended the state government for its peace keeping efforts.

He appealed to the government to pay more attention to the challenges of the communities as the 2021 Budget Appropriation will soon commence.

Ukori urged the Federal government to give oil producing communities the right of first refusal in the bidding process for marginal fields and implement the ten percent equity shares as captured in the Petroleum Industry Bill for oil and gas producing communities.

The meeting had in attendance the State Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Prince Emman Amgbaduba, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Petroleum Matters Mr Ernest Ogwezzy among others.