By Patrick Obia
Connected Development (CODE) has commenced interface with chiefs and members of host oil-producing communities in Cross River State, mapping out abandoned and dilapidated projects.
The Host Communities inspected are Efut Esighi, Esuk Mba, Esuk Mbat, Esuk Ikot Nsidung, Urua Iwan, Ekpene Ikot Okon Idem and Ekpene Ikot Okon Nsa, all in Bakassi and Akapbuyo Local Government Areas of Cross River State respectively.
The Cross River State Lead of Follow The Money Movement, Etim Effanga, intimated the chiefs of the Host Communities, that the aim of carrying out the preliminary findings was to help the organization with some of the projects abandoned in the communities and how some of them can be tracked and revived.
Doubling as the South-South Zonal Lead of Follow The Money, Etim said it is also to educate the communities to be on alert of incoming projects, monitor them, and follow the completion stages.
The chiefs who reiterated their commitments to work with CODE, however, lamented the neglect and abandonment they have suffered at the hands of the government and oil-producing companies having been host communities since 2006 with nothing to show for.
They, however, expressed hope that with CODE coming to their aid and with the explanation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), their hopes will be rekindled again.
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