Host Communities Laud Tinubu’s Economic Reforms, Seek Youth Empowerment

The Host Communities Producing Oil, Gas and Pipeline Impacted States Youth Council of Nigeria (HOSTCON-YCN) has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for its contributions to economic empowerment for youths and women in the Niger Delta region.

Speaking at a press conference on today in Abuja, the National President of HOSTCON-YCN, Senior Comrade Emmanuel Fiawe Pathfinder, said President Tinubu is providing leadership that is driving transformation in host communities.

Pathfinder further declared total support for President Tinubu, describing him as a southerner, an in-law and a product of the Niger Delta struggle.

“We are saying there is no vacancy in Aso Rock till after 2031. What happened to Jonathan in 2015 will not happen again. We are throwing our weight behind Mr. President,” he said.

He urged state governors to release funds to address hunger and support host community development, stressing that local government autonomy championed by the President must be implemented to bring development closer to the people.

“We are solely behind the leadership of Mr. President and his contributions to economic empowerment for our great youths and women in the region,” he added.

Pathfinder also commended the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), Dr. Osahon Okunbo, for his transformational leadership.

“We will not stand by while efforts are made to discredit an organisation whose operations have become important to the peace and stability of our region,” he said.

He stressed that the protection of Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure must not be undermined by smear campaigns.

“We believe that the protection of Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure must not be undermined by accusations and campaigns that threaten to destabilise operational relationships and weaken confidence among host communities,” he added.

The youth leader maintained that protection of oil infrastructure remains a collective responsibility and cautioned against actions capable of threatening peace in oil-producing communities.

“We are of the resolve that the people of the host communities considered the allegations and the campaign against PINL deeply concerning, particularly in view of the company’s reported contributions to pipeline security, host-community engagement, youth employment, educational scholarships and women’s economic empowerment across the Eastern Pipeline Corridor,” the Council said.

HOSTCON-YCN reaffirmed its support for PINL retaining its pipeline surveillance contract, noting that the company’s community-driven approach has strengthened trust and stability in host communities.

Pathfinder thanked traditional rulers and critical stakeholders from Edo, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Rivers States, as well as the media for their support.

He described the media as “the paddle of the struggle” that projects the agitation of host communities to the international scene.

He said youths remain the engine room of host communities and mainstay of the national economy, warning that there cannot be stability if youths are not carried along in the distribution of national wealth.

The youth leader lamented the impact of gas flaring, environmental degradation and pollution on women, children and the elderly in host communities, noting that Nigeria remains the highest oil producer in Africa and sixth in OPEC, yet host communities suffer the hazards.

He called for an upward review of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), questioning why the 3 percent OPEX is paid annually instead of monthly.

“If there is an emergency, a woman in labour or fire disaster, will the community wait 365 days before the 3 percent OPEX is released? That is an abnormality,” he said.