By  SIMON EBEGBULEM

BENIN—THE Bini United Front, a socio cultural organization in Edo State, has called on all oil companies operating in the state to make their workers reside in their areas of operation to bring development to the oil producing communities.

In a statement issued in Benin by the National Coordinator of the group, Mr. Osaro Onaiwu, yesterday, it lamented the backwardness of oil producing communities in the state in terms of development and noted that the only way true development could be achieved was when oil workers, including  expatriates, were made to reside in oil-bearing communities.

Condemning a situation where oil companies only cared about the oil being exploited in the communities, rather than the welfare of their host communities, the group argued that when oil workers reside in communities, they would have no choice but to provide basic amenities, such as good health centres, schools, water and good roads which would benefit the communities in the long run.

Onaiwu said: “If this is done, the oil producing communities will witness an economic turnaround and there will be increased commercial activities in the areas.”

The group further admonished both the Federal Government and National Assembly to come up with a law compelling oil workers to live in their operational communities.

“In a situation where oil companies are operating in areas that are not offshore, we see no reason they cannot live with the people.

“The current trend of bringing the workers in and out will never benefit the communities. That is why the oil companies are not bothered when there are ecological disasters because it does not affect their lives,” the group asserted.