The Governor of Akwa Ibom State Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, has said that there is need to set up a tripartite committee between SPFL Gas and Petrochemical FTZ, and the host communities on the SPFL Free Zone Project, in Eastern Obolo LGA, South south Nigeria.
The fresh demand comes when he played host to a delegation from SPFL and Stakeholders of Eastern Obolo community, in a special briefing session held at Government House, Uyo.
“We need to set up a tripartite committee. All of these problems, I think, happened because we don’t have Government presence working between you and the community and bringing words back,” he said.
He hopes that Government can help put everybody together when he added “Let’s go to talk and then give them the next two weeks to return with an interim report.”
Eno who said that “It might be a little bit expensive, but noted that there is no point for this community to suffer, also explained that “Even if you coerce them, there is a generation that will come and rebel against it.”
The Governor was seeking to find a good solution and partner with them in order to be able to make them happy.
The presence of SPFL Gas and Petrochemical FTZ, in the LGA can protect the community because they now own the assets and now neighbours, the Governor said.
In his words: “I am prepared to discuss this again and again to ensure peace because this is a major project to the State.”
“I want to ensure that we achieve it so that the investor can have some comfort while the community in turn still stays alive.”
He continued: “They have to be alive to be employed and also enjoy the benefit”, he said. “We will continue to encourage the company to do more in terms of their corporate social responsibility.”
He said “like Oliver twist, we ask them for more.” While he praised them for the things they have so far done. The benefit is enormous especially to the community.”
Making reference to his ARISE Agenda’s objectives and community involvement in determining need-based projects, he said. “We also ask the community to give their support so that this project will be realizable.
The company’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Mohit Barot, recounted the various human capital and infrastructural development support of NPFL given to the community in line with its corporate social responsibility for the host landlords.
Mr. Barot said his company would continue to partner the state government in the development of Akwa Ibom, assuring that NPFL will adopt some of the model projects of the Governor Umo Bassey Eno led- administration.
He said that there is no gain denying the fact that for about seven years of the company’s existence in the state, it has enjoyed a healthy relationship with the people of Akwa Ibom State.
“The community was not against the company’s operations,” Chairman Community’s Oil and Gas Committee, Professor Gamaliel Henry, said.
He noted that community members stand to benefit immensely from it’s explorations, but solicited government intervention to protect some ancient Obolo community that are at risk of extinction on account of furthering the SPFL operations.
Highlight of the visit was a tour of remodelled Christ the King School, where the governor asked the company to consider replicating the primary school and healthcare facility models in their host community.
He said this will be a way of partnering the state government for development, saying that the state will partner the company to construct the Iko-Okoroete-Ikot Akpaden road, which is of great value to the company.