Local Content Law: AKHA Receives Report Of Core Oil Communities

Four core local government areas of Eket, Ibeno, Esit Eket and Onna have presented their reports to the joint Committee of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly in line with local content compliance by multinational and oil servicing companies operating within the territorial waters of Akwa Ibom State for proper study and further actions.

The report is sequel to the sitting of the joint Committees on Special Projects, Monitoring and Implementation, Labour and Productivity, Petroleum Matters and Boundary and Conflict Resolutions held in June 2020 in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on the motion: “The Need for Compliance with the Provisions of the Nigerian Local Content Law and Memorandum of Agreement by Multi National and Oil Servicing Companies Operating within the Territorial Waters of Akwa Ibom State.”

The detailed report by the core four local government areas of Eket, Ibeno, Esit Eket and Onna was presented by Mr Frank Archibong, who is the chairman of Eket Local Government Area and chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).

Highlighting some sections of the submitted report to the joint committee, the ALGON chairman said there should be periodic reports to access the level of compliance on local content by the companies operating in the shores, of Akwa State.

The report was also acknowledged by the senior special assistant to the governor on petroleum matters, Sir. Victor Etefia, who stressed that there is need for a central platform in order to control the oil labour unions.

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In his view, “the AKHA should look at the Local Content Law and come out with an agency that will play a kind of oversight function”.

The governor’s aide further stated that oil company operation is a game that requires high level of technicality and equally expressed satisfaction on the involvement of the 7th Assembly in claiming our rightful benefits in the sector, describing it as apt and timely.

Sir Etefia in his submission pleaded with the Committee to empower the oil communities with the instrument to confront the oil companies to respect the Local Content Law.

Also speaking, the commissioner for labour divulged to the committee that Local Content Office in Bayelsa has not related with any office in Akwa Ibom State, a situation he described as unpleasant  to the state.

Represented by Mr Ikpe, the commissioner disclosed that the Local Content Office is relating only with their people in Rivers and Bayelsa, leaving us in Akwa Ibom to our fate.

“Most companies operating in our shores do not have offices here, making it extremely difficult to mount any pressure on them for our right,” he pointed out.

Speaking on behalf of the Industrial Labour Committee, the Committee chairman for Onna, Comrade Iniubong Essien, said that government should ensure our equity in the oil blocs is protected.

According to him, “This is a generational asset and will be very profitable for Akwa Ibom to own an oil well, which is what is seen and obtained in other oil-producing states.”

Responding on behalf of  the joint committee, the chairman, Elder Aniekan Uko, thanked all the stakeholders and members for their attendance and useful information, describing it as the way to go towards getting what rightfully belongs to Akwa Ibom.

“We cannot have the resources, many other states are enjoying and Akwa Ibom is singled out and maltreated by the operating oil companies.

“So we will do everything possible to handle the absurd trend and give relief and succour to Akwa Ibom people,” he stated.

Fielding questions from the press, the former speaker opined that so far, it can be seen that Akwa Ibom is running at a loss compared to what other states are getting from the oil companies operating in their shores.

“We will do everything humanly possible as a house to make sure that what belongs to Akwa Ibom is claimed.

“We cannot have oil many of the states are enjoying and Akwa Ibom is singled out and maltreated by the operating oil companies.

So we will do everything possible to handle the absurd trend and give relief and succour to Akwa Ibom people,” he vouched.

Meanwhile, while the committee will go back to study various reports presented by stakeholders, Elder Aniekan Uko assured that the Committee will do justice to the matter for the benefit of the affected persons.