Peace Point Development Foundation (PPDF) and Prisons Rehabilitation And Welfare Action (PRAWA) have engaged an oil rich community, Mkpanak in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state in a dialogue on the need for peaceful co-existence with multinational oil companies.
The event tagged; “strengthening capacities to promote security and human rights good practices around extractive and other industries in Nigeria” was organised by PPDF, PRAWA and DCAF (Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance) under the supervision of Security and Human Right Implementation Mechanism (SHRIM) at Mkpanak, Ibeno over the weekend.
Speaking, the Executive Director of PRAWA, Dr Uju Agomoh said dialogue became necessary and was a veritable tool for alternative peaceful resolution to bring an end to inccesant unrest and insecurity between oil communities and the multinational oil companies.
Agomoh, who noted that development could not thrive amidst insecurity, cautioned stakeholders against trampling on human rights which donates freedom to every individual regardless of status or class in the society.
She assured that the organization would intermediate between stakeholders and the community frequently to detect early warning signals that may lead to crises and swing into action to settle the dispute.
Agomoh said “we have had the opportunity to hear from you what your grievances are, we hope to take up some of those issues and bring it to the attention of different stakeholders, especially, the extractive companies (oil companies) to see how we can iron out the issues.
“We are trying to preach peace, and this peace will be possible especially as we are using the Voluntary Principles and Security.
“I think it is a good start. To bring peace will require quite a different thing. There are a lot of discussions about steps that needs to be taken to identify early warning signals. So there are things that needs to be done so that problem do not escalate,” she added.
On his part, the Coordinator of PPDF, Mr Umo Isua-Ikoh added that there was need for dialogue and meaningful engagement between the oil communities and oil companies.
Isua-Ikoh, who said that although the impact of gas flaring was so enormous in the community particularly where their roofing sheets were being changed every year, maintained that following the path of peace would bring great solutions.
“it is not everytime that you should pick up arms, because at the end of it, many maybe injured or died in the process and oil companies can relocate to other places. let us dialogue and have a meaningful engagement.
The Secretary of Ntafre Village Council, Mr Godwin Harika commended the organizations for opening the minds of the community to new ways of addressing the face-off with the oil companies.
Harika noted that although the oil companies have subjected them to hardship, adding that with understanding garnered from the workshop, all lingering matters would be resolved.
“From this workshop, I have seen that there is a better way to discuss the issue. By sitting in a round table with the multinational to discuss, we can get the help we are looking for and not everytime we pick up arms attacking the oil company and the company also attacking us.
