West Nile region told to tap oil deals
Arua District speaker Genesis Acema (R) speaks during the RICE meeting on oil last Friday.
PHOTO BY FELIX WAROM OKELLO
ARUA- Non-governmental organisations and local government leaders have come up with strategies to help residents of West Nile to benefit from the Oil and Gas industry.
The executive director of Rural Initiative for Community Empowerment (RICE-West Nile), Mr Pax Sakari, said last Friday that communities should be ready to take up employment and business opportunities from the oil companies that are to be licensed to carry out explorations.
Government has announced licensing of six new exploration blocks in the Albertine Graben. So far, Moyo and Yumbe districts have been identified for exploration. “Many countries with oil and gas have developed because they prepared to tap the benefits. This resource is for us all to develop and we need to be relevant and fit in the sector,” he said.
Business people have been asked to expand their businesses and produce quality goods that meets standards of oil companies for supply.
The residents have been asked to be on the lookout for employment opportunities, and have their children study courses in oil and gas.
Arua district speaker, Mr Genesis Acema, said: “Issues of land wrangles should be minimised because when oil companies are coming, people develop unnecessary anxiety creating conflicts on land.
We should not drive away the investors but we need to identify proper investors and not those who disguise,”
The district environment officer, Mr Joachim Andiandu said there is need to prepare for the environmental hazards from activities associated with petroleum exploration, development and production because they have significant impact on the environment.
