The leadership of the Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND), at the weekend urged multinational oil companies to demonstrate genuine commitment by relocating key operational headquarters to the Niger Delta.
The group argued that such a move, would boost local economic growth, create jobs, and restore confidence in the region as the true base of their operations.
According to MOSIEND’s National President, Dr. Kennedy Tonjo West, in his welcome address, while declaring a one-day media relations training workshop for its zonal and clan executives, emphasizing the need for strategic communication to advance the region’s quest for justice and development.
He described the training as a key step in the group’s 3R Mantra of Reorientation, Repositioning, and Recovery of lost values.
Dr. Tonjo West noted that the Niger Delta people have long endured neglect, severe environmental destruction, and economic exclusion despite the huge oil wealth extracted from their land.
He stressed that while past agitations highlighted these injustices, the focus must now shift to structured advocacy, effective communication, and constructive engagement capable of yielding concrete results and sustainable peace.
The MOSIEND leader expressed deep concern over the lack of meaningful benefits to host communities five years after the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) came into effect.
He questioned the continued secrecy surrounding penalties and compensation for gas flaring, describing it as potentially another tool to marginalize Niger Delta people.
“Transparency and accountability are not optional; they are fundamental rights,” Dr. Tonjo West asserted.
He further called on communities to firmly reject the discharge of chemical waste into rivers and the environment, branding such acts unacceptable. The Federal Ministry of Environment, he said, must urgently fulfill its duty to protect the ecosystem and public health.
Highlighting the importance of the training, the MOSIEND president said it equips leaders to engage media and stakeholders professionally, articulating demands with clarity, responsibility, and authority.
“I urge every participant to engage fully. Together, through informed advocacy and united purpose, we will advance justice, equity, and sustainable prosperity for our people,” he declared, before officially opening the workshop.
In a strong warning tied to the event, MOSIEND reiterated that our rivers are no dumping sites for waste, cautioning oil companies against continued environmental violations.
The training underscores MOSIEND’s ongoing push for better leadership capacity amid persistent calls for resource equity, environmental protection, and regional development in the Niger Delta.