Mbo rues underdevelopment despite oil contributions to national economy
The Mbo people of Akwa Ibom State have decried the poor level of development in their area despite being major contributors to Nigeria’s oil-dependent economy.
This was the leading concern raised by stakeholders of the area during an interaction with members of the Energy and Maritime Reporters of Nigeria (EMR) in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
During the interface, the Chairman of the Board of Efiat/Mbo Host Community Development Trust of Oriental Energy Resources Limited, Mr. Inam Effiong Okon, lamented that the people have suffered years of neglect by the Nigerian state.
According to the stakeholders, their land and water have contributed significantly to the nation’s wealth, yet they continue to suffer from the absence of government presence and poor infrastructure.
They said this has manifested in decrepit healthcare facilities, poor educational infrastructure and limited employment opportunities.
“We have oil, but Akwa Ibom State has forgotten us,” one of the stakeholders said.
The people, however, commended Oriental Energy Resources Limited for demonstrating commitment to the development of its host communities.
Oriental Energy, established in 1990 by Muhammadu Indimi, has implemented several projects and programmes in Mbo.
The stakeholders also commended the company for the timely remittance of the three per cent Host Community Development Trust contribution provided for in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
They disclosed that additional projects are in the pipeline, including an 80-unit housing estate, a hospital, grants for traders, and skills acquisition training for youths in ICT, with prospects for outstanding participants to benefit from overseas training.
The proposed empowerment programme is also expected to include scholarships for 40 students in private secondary schools.
Beneficiaries of the vocational training will receive starter packs at the end of their training to enable them to start their own businesses.
For the community leaders, such initiatives represent investments in the future of the people.
However, they argued that the responsibility for developing Mbo should not rest solely on Oriental Energy.
They expressed disappointment that several government agencies created to support oil-producing communities have not delivered the level of development expected in the area.
They also raised concerns over the impact of the three per cent Host Community Development Trust provision, noting that many communities were yet to see visible projects that matched their expectations.
The stakeholders acknowledged the role of the Petroleum Industry Act in creating a legal framework for host community development and commended the late President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the legislation into law.
But they stressed that the success of the law would ultimately depend on its faithful and transparent implementation.
Their message to the Akwa Ibom State Government, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), federal agencies and other development organisations was clear: Mbo deserves more.
They argued that an area contributing significantly to the nation’s oil and gas economy should not continue to struggle for basic infrastructure, quality healthcare, education and economic opportunities.
The communities also reaffirmed their commitment to peace, stressing that they would continue to support a conducive environment for oil and gas operations.
But peace, they noted, must go hand in hand with development.
