The Lagos State Chapter of Host Communities of Nigeria producing oil and gas (HOSTCOM) has inaugurated a 29-man executive team.
The new executives were inaugurated at a ceremony held inside the Council Chamber, Badagry Local Government.
Speaking during the inauguration, the National Chairman, HOSTCOM, Prince Mike Emuh who came into Lagos from the South-South said they were there to inform the newly elected executives about their rights as an oil producing state.
He pointed that they must not give room to those involved in oil bunkery, pipeline vandalism, oil theft, bush loading and illegal refinery as he explained that these acts destroy the economy and ecosystem.
“We must stop those activities. We need to rub minds with the traditional rulers and let them know what is theirs from the oil producing companies in their communities and also support the government,” he said.
Emuh said it is not right that none of the members of board of trustees is from Lagos state.
“We have the National Executive but nobody from Lagos state except the Chairman, Board of Trustees, BCCI, Sunny Ajose who already knows a lot about HOSTCOM.
“We need three people from Lagos state representing the state in the national body of HOSTCOM and we also need a member of Board of Trustees representing Lagos state at the national HOSTCOM just as we need a representative from Lagos at the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC,” he added.
He said that the federal government as well as the ministry of petroleum resources, NNPC, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, SPDC, International Oil Companies, IOC, should give Lagos state a member and Director in the NDDC and every other area.
“We need Lagos State on board when we are talking about oil block, including oil and gas contracts and Directors in the host communities as registered by CAC. We have our registration at national bodies and we also have companies and subsidiaries of the host communities.
“For instance, we have modular refineries because we are given a weaver for ten modular refinery licenses. Lagos state needs to come on board so that we can look at these things together in terms of scholarship, contractors, and directors,” he said.
“We are having subsidiaries of the host communities which are 7 companies established by us, Lagos does not have one director and they are supposed to have 7 directors in the 7 companies in the host communities,” he explained.
In terms of the employment of pipeline surveillance, in said that Lagos state is supposed to give them 1000 youths, ten from each community but they are nowhere.
He also suggested that every MoU that has been written by the state has to be revisited by the HOSTCOM lawyers so that if the MoU is faulty, it can be corrected as soon as possible.
On his part, the representative, Badagry Federal Constituency, Hon. Babatunde Hunpe told the executives not to disappoint the community or fight against the government.
“You are honoured today by everyone, don’t disappoint the community you are representing. “Our visitors are here to educate us and not to instigate you against the government or any constituted authority.”
He also mentioned that the bill for Lagos to be in the NDDC has passed the first reading.
Also speaking at the event His Royal Majesty, De Wheno, Aholu Menu-Toyi 1, The Akran of Badagry Kingdom who was represented by High-Chief Samuel Hundogan (The Agoloto of Badagry Kingdom) said the people of Badagry are not agitating or fighting the federal government but asking for what belongs to them.
“We want a modular refinery to be here and it should be indigenous. We also now know that we have the right to the NDDC board of directors so all our slots and everything that is due to us should be given to us.
“We promise that whatever we get will be shared in the three local governments of Badagry and as well as all the oher four divisions,” he concluded.
Dignitaries who attended the event includes His Royal Majesty, Aholu Agano Toniyon 1, The Aholu of AJARA-AGAMATHEN, His Royal Majesty, Aholu Thazunon Toyon 1, The Aholu of Ajara-Vetho, His Royal Majesty, Oba Friday Oladele Kosoko, Oba of Iworo Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba Abraham Olatunji Ogabi, Oyikilu 1, The Ajagun of Imeke kingdom amongst others.
