By Rita Enemuru, Reporting
TRADITIONAL rulers from oil-producing communities in Delta State, under the aegis of the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSCON), have called on the Federal Government to fashion deliberate integration policies that will ensure deeper involvement of Niger Delta people and critical stakeholders in oil and gas activities within their communities.
The monarchs made the call at a press conference on the state of the nation on Monday, January 5, 2026, at the palace of the Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Udurhie I, King Obukohwo Monday Whiskey in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.
Chairman of HOSCON and Ovie of the Great Idjerhe Kingdom, HRM King Obukohwo Monday Whiskey, said the organisation considered it necessary to present a developmental roadmap focused on the wellbeing of Niger Delta people.
“It is on this note that we want to give a developmental roadmap as it concerns the wellbeing of our people,” the monarch said, adding that the Federal Government must move beyond tokenism in engaging host communities.
He stated that true integration of Niger Delta communities into the oil and gas business would enhance security, inclusiveness and effective execution of development projects in the region.
“We made bold to say that in this new year 2026, the Federal Government should fashion out deliberate integration policies that will truly give our people deeper involvement in the oil and gas business ongoing in their backyard,” he said.
Beyond economic inclusion, the traditional rulers also urged the Federal Government to integrate traditional institutions into Nigeria’s national security architecture to address the country’s multi-dimensional security challenges.
According to the HOSCON chairman, traditional rulers remain closest to the grassroots and have consistently demonstrated effective local methods of addressing insecurity across communities.
“To address the multiple dimensional security challenges facing Nigeria, the Federal Government must look inward by allocating constitutional roles to traditional rulers,” he said, noting that this would strengthen security across the 774 local government areas.
He added that traditional institutions have proven their relevance through community-based conflict resolution and intelligence gathering at the local level.
The monarch further urged the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration to restore the dignity of Niger Delta people through sustainable and visible projects that would endure over time.
“The support of Niger Delta people that has ensured free flow of crude oil and gas must be appreciated through people-oriented and sustainable policies that will serve as legacy projects,” he said.
On infrastructure, HOSCON called for massive investment in road, rail and water transportation to ease movement and stimulate economic growth in the Niger Delta.
Poor connectivity, the monarch said, continued to hamper development and increase hardship for residents of the region.
On crude oil security, the traditional rulers expressed confidence in Tantita Security Nigeria Limited, commending the firm for its role in boosting oil and gas production and restoring degraded environments.
“Our assessment of Tantita Security Nigeria Limited is that of a company committed to professionalism and national interest, having successfully secured critical national assets where others failed,” King Whiskey said.
HOSCON appealed to the Federal Government to expand the operational scope of Tantita Security, citing its contributions to cleaner waterways, revival of aquatic life and job creation for thousands of youths.
The monarch noted that the security outfit had also played a significant role in environmental restoration and increased national revenue.
On employment, HOSCON urged the Federal Government to adopt deliberate job creation policies across all sectors of the economy to reduce youth unemployment and restiveness.
“The issue of youth unemployment must be tackled head-on through programmes that can engage thousands of able-bodied youths,” the monarch said.
The traditional rulers also called for full utilisation of seaports in the South-South zone, including Sapele, Warri, Burutu, Koko, Onne and the Ibom Deep Seaport, to create jobs and reduce pressure on roads.
“These ports have the capacity to generate massive employment and give relief to our overburdened road network,” he stated.
Addressing road infrastructure, the monarch urged the Federal Government to urgently rehabilitate dilapidated federal roads linking Benin City, Sapele, Warri, Ughelli, Port Harcourt, Oron, Akwa Ibom and Calabar.
He described the road corridors as vital to national commerce and regional development, calling for a coordinated intervention.
On the Presidential Amnesty Programme, HOSCON expressed concern over what it described as unnecessary wrangling and sponsored protests by faceless individuals.
King Whiskey said an assessment of the programme showed that the current coordinator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, had taken bold and courageous steps unmatched by previous administrators.
“We call on the Federal Government to encourage the Dr Dennis Otuaro-led Presidential Amnesty Programme to sustain and improve upon its laudable initiatives,” he said.
He dismissed allegations against the programme as orchestrated by “enemies of progress,” adding that its investment in education could transform the future of Niger Delta youths.
The press conference was attended by traditional rulers and elders from oil-producing communities, including the Ovie of Okpe-Isoko Kingdom, HRM Felix Omavuewegre Agbabe; the Pere of Ogbolubiri Mein Kingdom, HRM Polokowei Johnbull; the Igwete of Amai Kingdom, HRM Paul Solomon Ifeneziuche; and the National Chairman of HOSCON, Prince Michael Emuh, among others.
END.
[5/1, 3:19 pm] Rita Enemuru: Delta Monarchs Call On FG To Deepen Niger Delta Involvement in Oil, Gas Sector
Rita Enemuru, Reporting
Traditional rulers from oil-producing communities in Delta State, under the aegis of the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSCON), have called on the Federal Government to fashion deliberate integration policies that will ensure deeper involvement of Niger Delta people and critical stakeholders in oil and gas activities within their communities.
The monarchs made the call at a press conference on the state of the nation held on Monday, January 5, 2026, at the palace of the Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Udurhie I, King Obukohwo Monday Whiskey.
Chairman of HOSCON and Ovie of the Great Idjerhe Kingdom, HRM King Obukohwo Monday Whiskey, said the organisation considered it necessary to present a developmental roadmap focused on the wellbeing of Niger Delta people.
“It is on this note that we want to give a developmental roadmap as it concerns the wellbeing of our people,” the monarch said, adding that the Federal Government must move beyond tokenism in engaging host communities.
He stated that true integration of Niger Delta communities into the oil and gas business would enhance security, inclusiveness and effective execution of development projects in the region.
“We made bold to say that in this new year 2026, the Federal Government should fashion out deliberate integration policies that will truly give our people deeper involvement in the oil and gas business ongoing in their backyard,” he said.
Beyond economic inclusion, the traditional rulers also urged the Federal Government to integrate traditional institutions into Nigeria’s national security architecture to address the country’s multi-dimensional security challenges.
According to the HOSCON chairman, traditional rulers remain closest to the grassroots and have consistently demonstrated effective local methods of addressing insecurity across communities.
“To address the multiple dimensional security challenges facing Nigeria, the Federal Government must look inward by allocating constitutional roles to traditional rulers,” he said, noting that this would strengthen security across the 774 local government areas.
He added that traditional institutions have proven their relevance through community-based conflict resolution and intelligence gathering at the local level.
The monarch further urged the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration to restore the dignity of Niger Delta people through sustainable and visible projects that would endure over time.
“The support of Niger Delta people that has ensured free flow of crude oil and gas must be appreciated through people-oriented and sustainable policies that will serve as legacy projects,” he said.
On infrastructure, HOSCON called for massive investment in road, rail and water transportation to ease movement and stimulate economic growth in the Niger Delta.
Poor connectivity, the monarch said, continued to hamper development and increase hardship for residents of the region.
On crude oil security, the traditional rulers expressed confidence in Tantita Security Nigeria Limited, commending the firm for its role in boosting oil and gas production and restoring degraded environments.
“Our assessment of Tantita Security Nigeria Limited is that of a company committed to professionalism and national interest, having successfully secured critical national assets where others failed,” King Whiskey said.
HOSCON appealed to the Federal Government to expand the operational scope of Tantita Security, citing its contributions to cleaner waterways, revival of aquatic life and job creation for thousands of youths.
The monarch noted that the security outfit had also played a significant role in environmental restoration and increased national revenue.
On employment, HOSCON urged the Federal Government to adopt deliberate job creation policies across all sectors of the economy to reduce youth unemployment and restiveness.
“The issue of youth unemployment must be tackled head-on through programmes that can engage thousands of able-bodied youths,” the monarch said.
The traditional rulers also called for full utilisation of seaports in the South-South zone, including Sapele, Warri, Burutu, Koko, Onne and the Ibom Deep Seaport, to create jobs and reduce pressure on roads.
“These ports have the capacity to generate massive employment and give relief to our overburdened road network,” he stated.
Addressing road infrastructure, the monarch urged the Federal Government to urgently rehabilitate dilapidated federal roads linking Benin City, Sapele, Warri, Ughelli, Port Harcourt, Oron, Akwa Ibom and Calabar.
He described the road corridors as vital to national commerce and regional development, calling for a coordinated intervention.
On the Presidential Amnesty Programme, HOSCON expressed concern over what it described as unnecessary wrangling and sponsored protests by faceless individuals.
King Whiskey said an assessment of the programme showed that the current coordinator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, had taken bold and courageous steps unmatched by previous administrators.
“We call on the Federal Government to encourage the Dr Dennis Otuaro-led Presidential Amnesty Programme to sustain and improve upon its laudable initiatives,” he said.
He dismissed allegations against the programme as orchestrated by “enemies of progress,” adding that its investment in education could transform the future of Niger Delta youths.
The press conference was attended by traditional rulers and elders from oil-producing communities, including the Ovie of Okpe-Isoko Kingdom, HRM Felix Omavuewegre Agbabe; the Pere of Ogbolubiri Mein Kingdom, HRM Polokowei Johnbull; the Igwete of Amai Kingdom, HRM Paul Solomon Ifeneziuche; and the National Chairman of HOSCON, Prince Michael Emuh, among others.
END.
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