PENGASSAN Decries Incessant Abduction of Members

By Sodeinde Temidayo David

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has kicked against the incessant kidnap and attacks on its members, calling on security agencies for protection.

The association, in the same breath, also described the deplorable state of the Eleme section of the East-West road as shameful despite its economic importance to the country.

The Port Harcourt Zonal Chairman of PENGASSAN, Mr Peter Onita, disclosed this in Port Harcourt during the group’s weeklong security awareness campaign in the state tagged Making Nigeria and Nigerians safer and more secure.

He noted that members of the organisation were being kidnapped and harassed on daily basis, adding that such has affected their operations.

Speaking after a visit to the headquarters of Rivers State Police Command, Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), he also noted that the union had engaged relevant government agencies to ensure that the lives of Nigerians were more secured.

Mr Onita said: “With this awareness, we want the world to know that security is not left in the hands of security agencies alone, it should be in the hands of everybody. Whatever we can do in our little way, individuals and organisations should contribute to what the government is doing.

“As we speak, our members are being kidnapped, Nigerians are still being kidnapped, but we know that this awareness will go a long way.”

Mr Onita further expressed displeasure over the current state of the East-West Road, especially the Akpajo area of the state, describing the recent blockage of the road by Ogoni youths as apt.

He said: “As an association, let us state that the blockage that happened on the East-West road was not done by PENGASSAN, it was a blockage by men, women and youths of the area, especially the Eleme and Ogoni area of the state.

“However, PENGASSAN in the past had written to the government, engaged the government on the need for us to work on that road. After we found that the majority of money given to states and indeed the federation comes from that area, it is even natural that a little attention is given to that road.

“So, we are in support of the call that the East-West Road be given attention and PENGASSAN had maintained that position even before now.

“So, we would like to tell the government that there is a need for them to work on that road. The economic value of that section of the East-West Road can never be quantified.”