Nigeria’s energy conglomerate, Aiteo Group, has met with ex-militants and youth leaders in the Niger Delta region with a view to curbing oil bunkering and other illegal activities in the area, the Group’s representative, Tamunokuro Iyalla, has said.
Iyalla told The Nation that the ex-militants and youth leaders, pledged to join the energy firm in its bid to engender more peaceful coexistence, stop pipeline vandalism, illegal oil bunkering and refining in its areas of operation.
Iyalla said the meeting was hosted by Hon. Sobomabo Jackrich, a.k.a, Egberipapa, a former leader in the Niger Delta struggle and a major stakeholder in the Aiteo NTCL, Rivers State.
He said the meeting was called as a result of the peaceful dialogue among him, other Niger Delta leaders and Aiteo to address issues bordering on surveillance contract and environmental pollution in the creeks, rivers and lands within the communities that host Aiteo Group.
“Every community affected by our pipeline shall have a representative in the surveillance service. Aiteo management will visit each of the communities affected by our operation. They will discuss with the Community Development Council (CDC), the youth wing and provide support where necessary in terms of social amenities and capacity building,” Iyalla said.
The Aiteo representative assured that management was ready to compensate those engaged in oil bunkering and other illegal activities, if they put an end to the practice. While urging everybody to join hands to fight this economic and environmental sabotage, he made it clear that henceforth, Hon. Jackrich will be the Coordinator of Cawthorne Channel.
Iyalla said Hon. Jackrich assured the people that the meeting was in everybody’s interest. “This meeting is very crucial and important, as it carries excellent and reasonable information that will benefit us and help restore the true nature of our environment to resuscitate the aquatic and wild life within our area.
