Group Successfully Resolves PIA-Related Conflicts In Akwa Ibom Communities

Group Successfully Resolves PIA-Related Conflicts In Akwa Ibom Communities

A non-governmental organisation under the auspices of the Initiative for Africa Society Inclusion and Diversity with support from the MacArthur Foundation, said it had resolved the lingering issues militating against the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 in the Unyenge and Ntak Inyang communities of Akwa Ibom State.

The issues were amicably resolved during a multi-stakeholder dialogue held at Luton Park Hotel in Uyo, the state capital.

This was contained in a statement by the Executive Director of the organisation, Olayinka Akerelodu-Martins, which was made available to our correspondent in Uyo, at the weekend.

According to the statement, representatives from Universal Energy Resources Limited, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board’, Civil society organisations, media, community leaders, and other stakeholders attended the meeting.

Akerelodu-Martins in her opening remarks emphasised the importance of discussing development issues affecting host communities, particularly regarding the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 provisions.

The NCDMB Zonal Head for Akwa Ibom and Cross River State zonal operations, Dr Uduak Obot, in a keynote address, called for the resolution of all the issues and urged oil and gas companies operating in the state to comply with the provisions of PIA by establishing Host Community Development Trusts and funding them as required.

“We urge oil and gas companies operating in Akwa Ibom State to comply with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act by establishing the Host Community Development Trust Fund,” Obot stated.