Activities at the main office of the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, ISOPADEC, came to a halt yesterday as youths of Ohaji/Egbema, and Oguta, the two oil producing areas of the state closed the place.
Workers of the commission who arrived early to resume work met a locked gate barring them to gain access into the complex.
The youths, in great numbers stormed ISOPADEC headquarters office in the early hours of yesterday to lock the door with padlock. To show anger, the youths used palm fronds to hang on the gates with a stern warning to the officials to keep off the place.
Efforts to speak to the staffers proved abortive, but Trumpeta learnt that the youths are aggrieved that the state government is yet to release the mandatory amount due to the commission as enshrined in the constitution.
The youths had earlier issued warning signals of protest following non funding of the interventionist agency created in 2007.
Meanwhile, the Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria (TROMPCON) has extended the tenure of its national executive headed by Eze Akuwueze R. Ikegwuruka [Ezeahurukwe II of Mgbirichi/Abakuru ancient kingdom] by two years.
The tenure extension followed the resolution at the special meeting of the body held at the national secretariat of the TROMPCON in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
In a motion moved by His Royal Majesty Pere- Luke of Akugbenemien Kingdom of Delta State, members unanimously agreed without a dissenting voice that the tenure of the executive be extended by two years.
Moving the motion, His Royal Majesty Pere Luke enumerated the record of achievements of the leadership of the TROMPCON headed by Eze A.R. Ikegwuruka which among other things include the restoration of the cordial and harmonious relationship of TROMPCON with the Board and management of the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC which was hitherto severed by the immediate pasta dministration, attracting a befitting secretariat in PortHarcourt for TROMPCON, organization of a successful solidarity visit to the presidency( the first in the twelve years of existence of the TROMPCON).
HRM Pere Luke further outlined other remarkable achievements recorded under Eze Ikegwuruka’s Chairmanship of the TROMPCON which include maintenance of peace and good neighbourliness between oil companies and their host communities as well as overall improved relationship between the TROMPCON, Stakeholders and partners in the Niger Delta region stressing that Eze Ikegwuruka and his team piloted the affairs of the TROMPCON with high level of transparency and urged the members to appreciate this by giving them another mandate to run the affairs of TROMPCON for another term.
Reacting to the development Eze A.R Ikegwuruka thanked the TROMPCON for the confidence reposed in him and his team and promised to leave worthy legacies for the TROMPCON by evolving a more formidable TROMPCON at the end of his 2nd tenure.
Eze Ikegwuruka who is the Traditional Rulers of Mgbirichi/Abakuru Ancient Kingdom in Ohaji/Egbema LGA of I mo State reaffirmed TROMPCON’s commitment to continue to assist the federal government in its fight against incessant oil theft and vandalism of oil and gas pipelines and installations.
He gave an assurance that TROMPCON will continue to maintain good harmonious relationship with host communities and oil companies.
He therefore urged oil companies operating in the Niger Delta Region to strive to live up to their social responsibilities to their host communities as a way of enhancing good relationship.
