OMPALAN formulates blueprint for development of oil areas

By Emmanuel Elebeke

ABUJA—THE Oil Mineral Producing Areas Landlords Association of Nigeria, OMPALAN, says it has developed a blueprint for sustainable peace and development of the mineral producing areas.

At a special meeting of leaders of OMPALAN at Abuja, weekend, the group said its move was informed by “the growing public demands to make our extractive industries more competitive and transparent so thawt it will have impact on communities and the nation at large.”

Speaking at the assembly, chairman, Board of Trustees, BOT, OMPALAN, Bishop Udo Azogu, said, “Our blueprint is a bottom-up proposal that focuses essentially on transparency in the delivery mechanism of palliative programs, security of host communities and oil installations, adoption of highest safety standards in the production of mineral resources, respect for the rule of law and engagement of development agencies to deliver on their corporate social responsibility to the affected communities.”

He asserted that the association has unflinching confidence in the Presidency to deliver on the promises it made to give the region a new lease of life.

Azogu, however, faulted the strategy adopted by the Presidency to visit and interact with the oil producing states one day at a time for each state, saying it may not yield the desired result because the time of engagement with stakeholders was too short and does not allow for contributions from diverse and informed groups/individuals in the state.

“The Presidency should give the scheme greater flexibility and open up more to organizations like OMPALAN and individuals, who have genuine contributions to make so that the good intentions of government will not be derailed by selfish politicians and pressure groups working vigorously to dictate the tone exclusively with an eye on oil blocks and modular refineries,” he added.

 

 

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