The Executive Chairman of Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Hon. Mrs. Glory Ekah Effiong, has called for urgent intervention in the challenges confronting oil-bearing communities, particularly the lack of local content opportunities and the exclusion of local government authorities from critical engagements with oil companies.
Ibeno Chairman Calls for Urgent Intervention in Oil Communities, Demands Local Content Opportunities
Effiong made the call, when she received members of the Energy and Maritime Reporters of Nigeria (EMR), Akwa Ibom State Branch, who visited the council as part of their Core Oil Communities Tour.
The chairman described Ibeno as a “minority within a minority,” saying that despite the strategic role the area plays in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, its people continue to grapple with serious economic and developmental challenges.
Urgent Intervention in Oil Communities
She appealed to the visiting journalists to use their platforms to draw attention to the concerns of the people and encourage constructive dialogue among government, oil companies and host communities.
“The problems of oil-bearing communities are actually numerous. At times, it’s so pathetic that it’s like we are drowning men,” Effiong said, describing the media delegation as a “straw in a vast ocean” offering a measure of hope to communities facing difficult circumstances.
The chairman expressed appreciation to EMR for undertaking the tour, noting that the association had demonstrated a genuine interest in understanding the realities of oil-producing communities.
One of the major concerns raised by the chairman was the lack of meaningful local content opportunities for Ibeno youths.
Effiong said the situation had deprived many young people of opportunities to participate directly in the economic activities generated by the oil and gas industry within their community.
“As a local government chairman, I can beat my chest and tell you now that, since 2022, I have not seen any local content from any of these companies,” she stated.
According to her, the only local content initiative she had personally witnessed was the provision of a small bus, which she said was grossly inadequate compared with the needs of the community.
She also expressed concern over contracting arrangements involving international oil companies, alleging that some operators had established private companies that benefited from contracts while host communities were left with limited access to economic opportunities.
Effiong warned that the continued absence of jobs, contracts and other meaningful opportunities for local youths could deepen frustration and contribute to disruptions of oil company operations.
“Now standing on the road to block companies, and before you know it, they’ll come and catch them: ‘Why must you stand on the road to block companies?’ But they need to live,” she said.
The chairman also raised concerns about what she described as the exclusion of local government authorities from stakeholder engagements and processes surrounding the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
She alleged that oil companies often engage traditional institutions without adequately involving the local government, despite the council’s responsibilities in governance, security and community development.
“Most times when they have those stakeholder engagements, they don’t involve local government chairmen,” she said.
Effiong maintained that both traditional institutions and local government authorities should have a place at the table whenever decisions affecting oil-bearing communities are being discussed.
She further stressed that oil companies operating within communities should maintain proper engagement with relevant government authorities to promote transparency, accountability and peaceful relations.
The chairman called for greater transparency in the constitution of PIA-related boards and the distribution of opportunities, urging oil companies to adopt a more inclusive approach to community development.
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Earlier, the State Chairman of EMR, Akwa Ibom Branch, Mr. Harrison Ndifreke, explained that the association was in Ibeno to listen to the people, understand their challenges and report responsibly on the realities of oil-producing communities.
Ndifreke said the Core Oil Communities Tour was designed to examine the opportunities and challenges associated with oil and gas operations, environmental sustainability, community relations, local content participation, maritime activities and the development of the blue economy.
He described Ibeno as a strategic location in the energy and maritime landscape of Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria, noting that the media had an important role to play in promoting informed discussions between government, industry operators and host communities.
“We are here for partnership,” Ndifreke said, adding that members of the association are professionals affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, with years of experience covering the energy and maritime sectors.
He assured the council that EMR would continue to provide balanced, factual and responsible reporting, while also highlighting positive developments and initiatives in Ibeno.
“We are here to listen. We are here to report. And ultimately, we are here to contribute our quota towards a more sustainable and prosperous Ibeno and Akwa Ibom State,” he said.
In her vote of thanks, the EMR Secretary, Mrs. Mabel Ekanem, commended Chairman Effiong for what she described as her human-centred approach to governance and her efforts to give the people of Ibeno renewed hope for the future.
Ekanem appreciated the chairman for receiving the delegation and for openly sharing the concerns of the local government and its people.
She assured the council that EMR would continue to use responsible journalism to draw attention to the challenges confronting oil-bearing communities while supporting constructive engagements aimed at achieving sustainable development.
The visit provided an opportunity for both the local government and the media group to exchange perspectives on the future of Ibeno, with emphasis on greater inclusion, economic opportunities for youths, responsible oil operations and stronger collaboration between government, industry and host communities.
