Newscenter Media News 
Stakeholders from Imo State Oil rich region, have asserted that non implementation of the Petroleum Industrial Act PIA, by Oil Companies operating in the area is the reason for youth restiveness and under development pervading the area.
The assertion was made during a stakeholders meeting organized by the Imo State Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and Intelligence to chat the way for the betterment of the oil producing communities.
The stakeholders, including, political representatives, traditional rulers, town union presidents, women and youth leaders accused the oil companies of intentional negligence of the PIA agreement.
Speaking at the gathering, the member representing Ohaji-Egbema, Oguta and Oru West Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Eugene Dibiagu alleged that the Oil Companies, consciously shy away from their corporate responsibilities using the PIA as route of escape when in reality, the PIA is dormant in their schedule.
He lamented that the companies are practically doing nothing as regards to the development of the area where they operate.
The lawmaker particularly, accused Stalin Global Oil Company of using aggression to settle disputes with its host.
Dibiagu recalled that a young man from Obitti, one of the host communities is currently under police custody in Abuja at the order of the oil company, because he demanded that the right thing should be done.
“For over one year now, the company has been incarcerated the young man simply because he asked for improvement of workers welfare.” he said.
Speaking also, a former Federal Lawmaker, Goodluck Opiah, said that the PIA stipulates that 3 % of the accrued revenue generated from oil exploration be given to the host communities.
He expressed displeasure that the oil companies are finding it difficult to execute the agreement.
Opiah said that community leaders were doing their best to calm the youths but cannot continue doing so without any positive response from the oil companies, advising them to live up to what is expected of them by creating healthy relationship with their host.
Present at the event were representatives of the oil companies, Oando, Seplat and Sahara Upstream. They all pledged to play by the rules by ensuring the PIA agreement is followed to the later.
They maintained that peaceful coexistence between them and their host is paramount, noting that disagreement may arise but dialogue should be the best way to resolve it.
Earlier in his remarks, the commissioner in charge of the ministry, Henry Okafor, said the gathering is an annual event where host communities meet with oil companies to encourage peaceful coexistence.
He maintained that the state government, through the ministry, is ensuring that companies operating in the oil rich area live up to their responsibilities.
Okafor pointed out that any company that fails to implement the PIA is on its own as the government will not tolerate any act of negligence from companies that refuse to play by the rules.
The Commissioner advised host communities to desist from all forms of violence and see the oil companies as partners in progress.
He added that the companies are not operating on their own but at the order of the government and that fighting them means fighting the government.
Neglect on PIA by oil companies major cause of crisis in Imo host communies – Stakeholders