Nelson Utip
The Akwa Ibom State Police Police Commissioner, Baba Mohammed Azare, has admonished the youths in oil producing communities in the state against taking laws into their hands by blocking roads leading to the oil companies whenever there are issues, saying that his Command will not tolerate any form of breakdown of law and order. He called on the youths to always seek amicable solutions to issues with Oil Companies.
CP Azare stated this while addressing a stakeholders’ meeting with representatives of oil companies in Uyo on Monday, he said that the warning was as a result of frequent cases of violence in oil producing communities in the state.
The CP posits that the frequent fracas between the Oil Companies and the communities are as a result of breakdown of communication between them, emphasizing peace as a panacea for development.
CP Azare said that the Command was committed to to the security of oil installations in the state, he urged the youths to always report disagreements with Oil Companies to the police instead of taking laws into their hands.
Azare admonished the oil companies to meet regularly with the youths to address their demands before it degenerates to violence:
“We have been having reports where the youths take laws into their hands because of one problem or the other between the companies domiciled in their areas.
“Sometimes they barricade the roads leading to companies. So we felt as a command we have to bring the youths together to discuss this and admonish them to stop taking laws into their hands.
“Without development we cannot grow the economy, if you have any problem inform us immediately, so that we have a common ground to resolve issues amicably.” He said.
Justin Obo, The Security Manager, Seplat Energy Producing Nigeria Unlimited, in his reaction on behalf of oil companies put the blame on the community leaders for not including the youths in the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act which directs oil firms to spend three percent of their operation cost on the oil communities. He advised the youths to study the Act as it has taken much of the Corporate Social Responsibilities from oil companies, adding that the youths are not enlightened on the provisions of the PIA.
Obo applauded the Police Commissioner for the meeting aassured that the oil companies would henceforth initiate communication channels to resolve communal issues.
