Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities (TROMPCON), Monday, called on the federal government to ensure the development of the oil producing communities of the country.
The measure, the group said, would give the areas a sense of belonging and help in stabilizing the region for National growth.
The National Chairman of TROMPCON, HRM, Dr Effiong Archianga, who spoke during an interview with Journalists in Uyo, decried the lack of federal presence in the region.
He lamented that the region has been shortchanged over the years in spite of being the food basket of the nation.
Archianga, who is also the Paramount Ruler of Ibeno Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom state decried the rate of abandoned projects in the region, urging the NDDC to complete all abandoned projects in the zone.
“we demand that oil producing communities must be given outstanding projects such as good roads, cottage hospitals, industries, electricity and water supply, employment into Federal Government Parastatals such as NNPC, Customs, Immigration amongst others”.
He stressed the need for the federal government to compel multi-national oil companies to relocate their administrative headquarter to their areas of operation in order to make the oil producing communities have a sense of belonging.
He also called for synergy among Governors of oil producing states in order for them to have a holistic development plan for the region.
He advocated for the role for traditional Rulers in the scheme of things in the country, adding that royal fathers as the custodian of culture and traditional have a great role and contributions towards the growth of the country.
On youth restiveness, Archianga urged the federal government to embark on aggressive skill acquisition and empowerment programme for youths in the region as this will ensure economic growth as well as ensure continuous peace in the region.
