BY ONORIODE ETATSEMI
DELTA State Government has stressed the importance of peace and harmony between oil and gas host communities and operating companies.
Director of People’s Rights, Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Juliet Ojefia, made this statement at a peace agreement meeting with Base Operations Platform Petroleum Limited and five host communities.
Mrs. Ojefia explained that the resolution benefits both parties, and urged communities to maintain the peace.
She noted that the Petroleum Industry Act does not provide for peace awards. But for the security, and peaceful relationship between the communities and the Companies, it was agreed that the parties maintain a balance in the payment of the peace awards.
On the interpretation of the MOU between Umueziogoli and Umuosele communities, entered in 2003 concerning land ownership and sharing formula for oil exploration benefits accruing from a disputed land,
she said, it was agreed that the MOU covered only benefits accruing from the shared land to the exclusion of all other lands in either community where oil and gas have been discovered or would be discovered in future explorations.
Also speaking, the General Manager of Base Operations Platform Petroleum Limited, Barr. Anionye Eka-Iloma praised the State Ministry of Justice’s reconciliation role.
He encouraged communities to embrace the Petroleum Industry Act, citing benefits exceeding those of the MoU.
The Umueziogoli community representative, Hon. (Pst.) Humphrey Uziakpundu, also thanked the Ministry of Justice, and commended the peace agreement, emphasizing brotherly relations between the communities.
