Niger Delta Journalists Association (NDJA) has urged the Imo State Government and Oil Companies operating in Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta Local Government Areas to look inwards and build social amenities such as electricity, roads, water schemes, hospitals, including markets and schools in the areas.

NDJA made the plea in a press release signed by the President of the association, Pastor Austin Okoro, and the Media Director, Ikenna Orioha.

The Association also demands for the employment of youths of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta in Public Service, Oil Companies, Scholarship or Internship of Students and Graduates Home and Overseas, Payment of Bursary to every youth and the Empowerment of Women on Commerce and Cottage Industries.

The Association on Thursday in Owerri after thorough deliberations in its meeting agreed that when there are working infrastructures, youth rejuvenation, women empowerment, monthly payment of bursary to youths and women, scholarship scheme to students and graduates to study, advance study home and overseas, including skill acquisition the oil producing communities in Imo State will develop socially, economically with peace, orderliness, comfort, conviviality and security reigning supreme.

The Association regrets that Government and Oil Companies had over the years neglected the people of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta despite the huge oil resources they tap from their land.

The group maintains that the underdevelopment, pocket of crisis and poverty bedeviling the people of the oil rich region of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta are caused by Government and

the Oil Companies operating therein, stressing that no effort has been made by them to ensure that the people enjoy their God-giving mineral resources.

The Association who has been mainstreaming the good and progress of the oil bearing communities through advocacy, media publications, frowned at the horrendous abrogation of the Undergraduate Scholarship Scheme legally awarded to students of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta by the Tripod Vision administration championed by Chief Achike Undenwa which was later haphazardly handled by the Clean and Green Initiative regime of Chief Ikedi Ohakim.

Regrettably, the Scholarship Scheme which was unthinkably abrogated by the Rescue Mission Government spearhead by Chief Rochas Okorocha upon assumption of office in 2011, helped many indigent youths of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta to acquire quality formal education.

“We therefore call on the Imo State Government: Governor Hope Uzodimma, Imo State House of Assembly to revamp the abrogated Undergraduate Scholarship Scheme to enable indigent people of the Oil Producing Communities in the state to gain skills that will propel them to become useful and responsible.

“Also, we call on Oil Companies operating in Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta to reason objectively, thoughtfully, rationally while implementing the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) healthily reached with host communities so that living, peace, comfort and security will be improved therein” the Niger Delta  Journalists Association concluded.