WRITTEN BY ADA OKECHUKWU
The Oil and Solid Mineral Producing Area Landlords Association of Nigeria, OMPALAN, Anambra State is one. OMPALAN is a non-government organization,

promoted by eminent Nigerians and stakeholders in the solid minerals producing states in Nigeria.
Its objective is to create and sustain peace as well as encourage rapid and sustainable development within the oil mineral producing states. The organization is driven by core professionals and technocrats from wide spectrum of human, material, intellectual and spiritual endeavors working to complement efforts of government and other critical development agencies in the country’s oil and mining industry.
This is aimed at breathing life into the vulnerable and despondent local communities endowed with hydro carbon and other exploitable mineral deposits but sadly, perennially ravaged by stiffing conditions of survival from the impacts of curbing environmental degradation.
OMPALAN is also mindful of the devastation of accumulated oil spills on vulnerable coastal communities which have no single oil facilities, yet are devastated perennially through the River Niger emptying into the estuaries, hitting these communities with attendant toll on lives and property.
Consequently, these have led to agitations by host communities and restiveness among the youths, leading to endless crises, vandalization, bunkering, blowing of pipelines and other destructive actions, which, in turn, affect the communities, companies as well as state and federal governments socially and economically.
It is in consideration of these factors that OMPLALAN is building synergy with government ministries, departments and Parastatals to ensure that environmental studies of oil and solid mineral companies are rigorously carried out to ensure implementation of recommendations to mitigate negative impact contribution to socio-economic development of the areas.
Although OMPALAN has been in existence in the country, especially in oil producing states for decades, the body was inaugurated in Anambra state in June, last year under the able leadership of the pioneer chairman, Chief Edwin Uyaemesi and Secretary, Chief Alex Ofochebe.
This was necessitated by the discovery of oil in parts of the state, while the organization joined state government and millions of Ndi Anambra in gladly welcoming federal government’s declaration of Anambra state as oil producing state. Thus, the establishment of OMPALAN in Anambra state is apt and timely as it would help nib on the bud, ugly occurrences experienced in other oil producing areas.
Activities of Anambra State OMPALAN in the past one year include advocacy visits to relevant government ministries and establishments, host communities as well as other relevant individuals, companies and organizations. It has also organized town hall meetings with youths and other stakeholders in Atani for Ogbaru and Aguleri for Anambra East Council areas to spread the message of peaceful resolution of issues.
Moreover, youths were drilled on the importance of education and acquisition of skills relevant to oil exploration to prepare and equip them with requisite knowledge and to make them employable so as to provide ready labour for the oil companies, rather than these companies importing skills from outside the communities or states.
It also plans to visit other communities to further spread the message. The grand finale of the town hall meetings tentatively will hold in November this year on a date to be announced later. This, no doubt, will help curb unemployment and youths restiveness in the areas while the oil companies will also be mindful of the need to fulfill their obligations to the host communities and the state.
Anambra State OMPALAN has also finalized arrangements to sponsor some youths in Anambra State Polytechnic, Mgbakwu to undergo training and short courses. The skills include welding and fabrication, plumbing, carpentry, tailoring, driving, laundry services and pest control. Others are Gardening, Vulcanizing, Auto-mechanics, Agricultural Training, Women in Community Development, Tractor Driving and maintenance, Interior Decoration and Fashion Designing as well as ICT. It is gratifying to note that the trainings are free.
To this end, OMPALAN is making frantic efforts towards consulting good spirited individuals and organizations to pull resources to assist in sponsoring the training. This, will also be heeding the state government Think Home Philosophy, Akuluouno, and in-line with the spirit of wife of the Governor’s CAFÉ Initiative to give succor to the needy, and vulnerable, which will in-turn, project the state and help keep aglow the light.
One can comfortable posit that with all its lofty ideas and programmes, Anambra OMPALAN will take the lead and further project Anambra state, as the Light of the Nation to the Glory of God.

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