By Dianabasi Effiong
FLOWERBUDNEWS: The Chairman of Udung Uko Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Elder Godwin Okponung, has called for quality engagement with stakeholders and more clarity on the exploration activities and operational status of the Amalgamated Oil Company of Nigeria Limited (AMOCON), in the area.
The Chairman made this known on Monday in Eyofin, the council headquarters, when he received a delegation of Executive members of the Energy and Maritime Reporters of Nigeria (EMR) who were in the area as part of their visit to Core Oil Communities across Akwa Ibom State.
According to the council chairman, AMOCON began exploration activities in the area around 2015, with expectations that its exploration efforts would lead to the discovery and development of commercially viable oil and gas resources.
He said that though the company’s exploration activities had indicated the presence of gas, AMOCON had subsequently maintained that the gas discovered was not in commercial quantity.
The Chairman also expressed concern over the apparent inactivity at some of the sites opened by the company, including locations at Ubudo and Ebiko.
“AMOCON came in around 2015, and we expected that something positive would come out of its activities. They initially explored for oil, but oil was not found. They were able to see gas, but as of today, they are saying that the gas is not in commercial quantity,” Okponung said.
He said the situation had made it necessary for stakeholders to obtain clearer information on the outcome of the exploration programme, the status of the sites, and the company’s plans for the area.
He said that his administration had spoken with AMOCON and requested that the company meet formally with the Council for a briefing on its operations, exploration findings, and activities in the host communities.
He said the proposed engagement would provide an opportunity for the council and communities to obtain accurate information and better understand the prospects of oil and gas development in Udung Uko.
Okponung also called for environmental responsibility in all exploration and extractive activities.
He also noted that development should not come at the expense of the environment and the well-being of host communities.
He said the Council was open to partnerships involving government, industry operators, communities, and the media, particularly in exploring opportunities presented by the emerging blue economy.
He said that such a relationship would be mutually beneficial, as government and communities require responsible investment and development, while industry operators need an enabling and peaceful environment to operate.
He urged stakeholders to sustain dialogue and peaceful engagement in addressing concerns surrounding oil and gas operations in Udung Uko.
Earlier, the State Chairman, EMR, Ajwa Ibom Branch, Comrade Harrison Ndifreke, said the Core Oil Communities engagement visit was designed to take the association beyond conventional reporting by creating direct engagement with communities and local authorities.
Ndifreke said the initiative was aimed at understanding the realities of oil-producing communities, identifying their challenges and opportunities, and creating a channel through which their concerns could receive appropriate media attention.
He said EMR considered the media and government relationship as symbiotic, with the media serving as a bridge between communities, government, and industry by providing credible information and facilitating constructive conversations around development.
“EMR is not here merely to report events. We are here to listen, learn, and build relationships that can contribute to development. We believe that when government, communities, industry, and the media work together, each stakeholder benefits,” Ndifreke said.
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He said EMR was particularly interested in how Udung Uko could maximise its oil and gas, maritime, and blue economy assets to create employment, empower young people, attract investment, and improve the living conditions of its people.
The EMR chairman assured the council of the association’s commitment to balanced, responsible, and development-oriented journalism, while noting that the media would continue to provide platforms for constructive engagement among stakeholders.
The delegation expressed appreciation to the Executive Chairman for receiving EMR and for his willingness to engage the association on issues concerning the development of Udung Uko.
The association said it looked forward to sustaining the relationship with the council and other stakeholders in the local government as part of its commitment to strengthening media-community engagement across Akwa Ibom’s oil-producing areas.