ABUDU- The member representing Orhionmwon South Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Etinosa Ogbeiwi has condemned the hard stance taken by the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) in areas of job creations for youth of its host community and lack of respect for the traditional chiefs and Enogie in the area.
NGC is a subsidiary of NNPC concerned with the laying of the on-going pipelines of integrated Gas Transmission Pipeline from Oben on Orhionmwon local government areas of Edo state to Ajaokuta in Kogi State local government area through its contractors, Zakhem Nigeria Limited.
Speaking at a meeting convened by the chairman of Orhionmwon Local Government Council, Hon. Patrick Aisien, officials of the Nigeria Gas Company (NGC), its contractors, Zakhem Nigeria limited and stakeholders from the local government area held at Abudu at the weekend, Hon. Ogbeiwi insisted that an atmosphere of peace that would enable the company to continue with the project in the area must be hinged on due recognition of the chiefs and Enigie of the host community as well as job opportunities for the people .
The lawmaker reiterated that it was high time these contractors started going about their business in the right manner, adding that days when the people were treated with disdain and disrespect were over.
Hon. Ogbeiwi said engaging the youths of the community directly in the execution of the project and accordance of respect to traditional rulers in the area must be addressed before work can be resumed by the contractors.
Also speaking, the commissioner representing Orhionmwon in the Edo State Oil and Gas development commission, princess Nomwengho Uhuangho berated the conduct of the officials of NGC and Zakhem Nigeria Limited, the sub-contractor handling the project, noting that the company erred by not directly engaging the indigenes of the host community in the execution of the project.
She questioned the rationale behind the execution of such project in the community without a memorandum of understanding (MOU) detailing the terms of reference of the project and the benefit of the host community.
She faulted the report of the purported EIA conducted by the consultant to NGC, adding that if a proper EIA was conducted, it would have averted the crisis facing the contractors.
In its defence, the project manager Zakhem Nig. Limited, Engineer E. Akinsanya admitted that a proper EIA had not been done but pledged that his company would make amendment.
High point of the meeting marked the drawing up of 12-point demand by the host community which was presented to NGC officials for quick perusal before its ratification.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Orhionmwon Local Government Council, Hon. Patrick Aisien has constituted a seven-man committee to deliberate on matters arising from the 12-point demand made by the host community to NGC.
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