GAS CITY PROJECT: Host Communities Pledge to Work Together …Lauds Jonathan, Uduaghan

The Communities that make up the $16 Billion Ogidigben Gas City [Export Processing Zone] have resolved to stop further acrimony and inciting actions to ensure that the project is peacefully executed.

At a town hall meeting Thursday in Government House, Asaba presided over by the Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, the communities resolved to stop all negative publications against the Ogidigben Gas City project and  continue to live peacefully among themselves.

Speaking at the parley, Governor Uduaghan said it was important for the people of the area to see the Gas City project as one which will not only be beneficial to the host communities, the state, and the nation but, also of great importance to the international community.

He observed that all efforts have been made to ensure that the host communities are comfortable with the project but, decried the situation where some persons still express their grievances on the pages of newspapers as against round table talk.

The Governor who commended the host communities for agreeing to stop all forms of hostilities, set up a fact-finding committee headed by his Deputy, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN) to consolidate on the resolutions reached at the Town Hall meeting.

Members of the committee which included five persons from each of the host communities are: the Commissioners for Oil and Gas, Mr. Mofe Pira; Lands and Survey, Sir Patrick Ferife; State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Charles Ajuyah (SAN); representatives of the Police, Navy and the State Security Services.

Governor Uduaghan at the meeting lauded the determination of President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure successful take off of the project, stating that as an individual, he is fully in support of the programmes of President Jonathan's administration.

“I want to restate that I am 100 hundred per cent in support of Mr. President, nobody can discourage me from supporting him because he means well for the Niger Delta region and Nigeria,” the Governor said.

“The Gas City project will bring many other projects to the host communities especially, gas processing facilities, petrochemical industries, deep sea port, among others and as such, we should participate actively in the take-off of the project because, it is beyond any individual, state or nation as international communities are also involved”, he added.

“The project is not about me or about you as individuals, it is about our children, our grand-children and our great grand-children as this project will outlive all of us, so, we should allow peace to reign so as to get the benefits derivable from the project,” he said.

Those who spoke on behalf of the host communities at the meeting which was attended by the Ugborodo Community, Gbaramatu Community, Sekegboro/Yokro Community, Kpokpo/Fregene Family and the Ilaje/Ilesame family commended Governor Uduaghan for attracting the project to Delta State, stating that they are aware of the devastating effects of war and as such, they will toe the line of peace at all times for them to have full benefits from the Gas City Project.