July 10 (THEWILL) — The Federal Government has challenged oil companies operating in Akwa Ibom State’s oil-bearing communities to make sustained investments in education, healthcare, potable water and livelihood programmes to tackle the deepening poverty confronting residents.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Mohammed Doro, made the call during a town hall meeting in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area after undertaking a field assessment of riverine communities devastated by decades of oil exploration.
Doro said the Federal Government was concerned by the level of deprivation witnessed during the visit, noting that many residents lacked access to basic social services, while unemployment, environmental degradation and the decline of fishing activities had worsened poverty in the coastal communities.
“I did not read a report. I walked. I saw homes. I looked into the eyes of mothers, fathers and children in Eastern Obolo”, the minister said, adding that the experience reinforced the need for policies driven by realities on the ground.
He stressed that while humanitarian relief remained important, communities such as Eastern Obolo required long-term investments in functional schools, healthcare facilities, clean water, skills acquisition and sustainable economic opportunities capable of breaking the cycle of poverty.
The minister urged oil companies to move beyond short-term corporate social responsibility projects and embrace strategic partnerships that deliver lasting development in their host communities.
“This is not a call for charity; it is a call for partnership”, Doro said, adding that companies should be recognised not only for extracting natural resources but also for contributing meaningfully to the long-term development of the communities where they operate.
He disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed the assessment to enable the Federal Government to obtain first-hand information on the living conditions of residents and the impact of oil exploration on their livelihoods.
According to him, findings from the visit will guide policy formulation, budgeting and interventions by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
Doro also said the ministry would continue to work with the Akwa Ibom State Government, local authorities and development partners under the One Humanitarian, One Poverty Response System (OHOPRS) to coordinate interventions in vulnerable communities.
The assessment formed part of a multi-stakeholder engagement organised with International Alert Nigeria to evaluate community needs and strengthen collaboration among government, host communities and the private sector.
Speaking at the event, the Country Director of International Alert Nigeria, Dr. Kingsley Udo, said sustainable poverty reduction in oil-producing communities would require stronger collaboration among government, host communities, development partners and the private sector.
He said investments must address the root causes of poverty by strengthening livelihoods, improving access to essential services and promoting social cohesion, adding that International Alert Nigeria remained committed to supporting dialogue and collaborative interventions that foster inclusive development and lasting peace in resource-rich communities.
Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Princess Emem Ibanga, described the visit as a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing poverty in vulnerable communities, noting that it would complement the state’s poverty reduction initiatives under Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda.
She also urged corporate organisations operating in host communities to align their corporate social responsibility programmes with local development priorities, stressing that sustainable growth could only be achieved when businesses and their host communities prosper together.
The Paramount Ruler of Eastern Obolo, His Royal Majesty Uboon Harry J. Etetor IX, lamented that decades of oil exploration had severely affected fishing, the traditional occupation of many residents, leaving families struggling to feed their households, educate their children and access healthcare and clean water.
He appealed for greater Federal Government presence through infrastructure and social development projects while calling on oil companies to increase investments in their host communities.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Eastern Obolo Local Government Area, Rt. Hon. Samuel Nteogwuijah, said the minister’s visit provided an opportunity to strengthen collaboration among the Federal Government, Akwa Ibom State Government, the council and oil companies in implementing programmes targeted at women, youths, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
The delegation also held discussions with officials of Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company (SEEPCO), traditional rulers and community leaders on expanding investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, peacebuilding and youth development.
