A gathering of stakeholders from the Ohaji-Egbema Community in Imo State is accusing the Nigerian government of neglect, despite the community being an oil-producing area that contributes to the country’s revenue.
The stakeholders met at a town hall meeting featuring indigenous dignitaries from the two communities, as well as members of those communities, to make their voices heard.
Speaking at the event, Kingsley Ijeoma, an Egbema indigene, pointed out that the Nigerian government was not fulfilling its social contract with the people, despite the people being upright citizens who pay their taxes.
“It is an injustice to use our resources, take our taxes, and not commensurate with roads, water and institutions “, He Said.
Others pointed out the importance of the natural resources in their immediate environments and felt it was unfair that the dividends of governance were not fully felt by the communities.
The Ohaji-Egbema community has a long-standing issue with Oil companies, with tensions over benefits often the bone of contention. Last Year, the Umuokoroka kindred in Ohaji/Egbema Community in Imo State protested what they described as a deceptive oil exploration agreement between the community and Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited.
The Protest occurred at Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited’s operation base in Obiti, in the Ohaji/Egbema community. The bone of contention is an alleged deception and exclusion from the signing of a Freedom To Operate (FTO) agreement and Job Order for oil exploration by the oil company.
The protesters claimed the oil company deceived the community into selling their land when they only wanted to lease it. Such spats are commonplace in oil-producing communities in Nigeria.
In response, Oil companies have in the past invested in robust Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, such as scholarship schemes, grassroots education investments, and security contracts with indigenous outfits.
Imo State is home to seven major oil and gas companies that contribute to the growth of the state’s local economy.
