By Kemi Yesufu

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On Thursday July 21 was the the women wing of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of Host Comunities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas was inaugaurated. As expected, women in their numbers turned out in the aso-ebi Ankara for the day, looking glamorous. But the mood at event  soon changed to a somber one.The women who said though they are resident in Abuja and far away from home, took turns to speak on the need to organise, rather than argonise. No thanks to the sudden spike in bombings of oil and gas installations, the major talk at the colourful, yet emotionally charged ceremony centred around bringing young people back to the negotiation table and desuading them from violent acts. It therefore followed that these mothers of Niger Delta extraction appealed to agitated youths of the region to show restraint and cease attacks on oil facilities in host communities producing oil and gas across the country. Leading the pack of spirited appeals was chairperson of HOSCOM women wing, Dr Tumini Akogun. She appealed to youths to “show more restraint and a greater degree of patience with government”. “Wanton destruction is causing more harm to host communities and government,” she added.
Akogun noted that years of exclusion sparked the youth-led attacks on facilities in the Niger Delta, but that the attacks in the economic oil-producing south has stifled the funding government needs to finance helpful projects like the Amnesty programme. She said there was need to end the problems created by various agitations in the region, adding, “The absence of peace has undermined every effort at significant development.”
Also at the event, HOSCOM women called on stakeholders, right from wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, to traditional leaders and religious leaders to help promote peace in the region, insisting that “placing all the burden at the feet of the federal government is a great disservice”. Despite this, the HOSCOM  women leader who disclosed that her association is ready to be part of the negotiations by the Federal Government equally warned that “President Muhammadu Buhari has good intentions but sycophants are not allowing him do what he intends to do for the region”. To the president’s wife she added: “Your passion for peace and the empowerment of women is indeed worthy of note. In furtherance to our cause we will appreciate if you join hands with us in the laudable project of promoting peace in the troubled oil producing communities”.
Recognising the lacuna caused by the obsolete laws governing the oil and gas industry, HOSCOM is pushing for the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to be made top priority in the legislature  and brought on stream in hope of quelling agitations. Amongst its demands, it wants a 10 percent equity slated for oil-producing states to be extended to all solid minerals for uniform development. It also plans to negotiate with youths whom it wants to ensure peace reigns while they channel their energies to more productive engagement. At least 25 different groups have been part of the latest agitations across the region, and a new federal government negotiation committee has begun meeting with them.
She said: “Barely two days ago, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, stated that no Excutive bill on PIB is currently in existence in the National Assembly. However, we appeal to the Executive to support the move by the House of Representaives to harmonise two private bills on the petroleum and gas sector as  this is a  long standing issue in the National Assembly. This PIB of different versions has moved from the 6th, 7th and presently the 8th assembly. This vital legislation will significantly improve the state of affairs in the host communities, if given a speedy passage”.
HOSCOM National President Mike Emuh, who inaugurated the association’s FCT women wing expressed full support for dialogue as a way of bettering the lot of oil producing communities. “Let’s not cut off our noses to spite our face,”  he said in appeal to agitating youths. “They have made their point. They are freedom fighters, not militants at this time, it is time for jaw-jaw. Allow the elders take the mantle of leadership and get something for our people, to see that something is done”, he added.