An analysis and advocacy manager in the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), Chuks Ofulue, has said that the organisation is not representing the oil companies, as misconstrued by many, in the sensitization and awareness creation for host communities in respect of the Petroluem Industry Act (PIA) implementation.

Ofulue, who represented the executive director and managing Trustee of PIND, Tunji Idowu, made this known during a Sensitization / Awareness Creation for Host Communities in Ondo State on PIA Implementation, sponsored by the Ford Foundation and facilitated by PIND and the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) on Thursday, July 27, 2023 in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

"We are in partnership with the Ford Foundation, we are not representing any oil company," said Ofulue, to representatives from host communities in Ilaje Local Government Area at the Sunview Hotel in Akure, venue of the programme.

"What we are doing is trying to be on the side of stakeholders. The PIA is a very restrictive document and because it's a law, it has decided exactly what needs to be done, but the communities and stakeholders themselves are not academicians, they're people that go about their daily business, not knowing what the law has said.

“So, what we have done is collaborate with Ford Foundation to create awareness on the implementation process of the PIA,” Ofulue said, while also assuring representatives of Ondo host communities that their comments will be compiled and submitted to the regulators of the oil and gas industry.

Ofulue, who also stressed that there are penalties for the settlors (oil companies) and stakeholders (host communities), said that "it is important that stakeholders know what to do" hence the sensitization and awareness creation in collaboration with the Ford Foundation. 

Chief Sheriff Mulade, the National Coordinator of CEPEJ, reaffirmed the position of the PIND representative on the purpose of the awareness creation, which is geared towards "deepening" the understanding of host communities as regards the processes of implementing the PIA.

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