To protect oil and gas installations in Kogi against vandalisation, the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil & Gas (HOSTCON) says it plans to recruit 10,000. 

HOSTCON chairman in the state, Gabriel Ojoka, during an advocacy visit to the Kogi Commissioner of Police, Idrisu Dabban, on Monday in Lokoja, said the recruits will be versed in pipeline security surveillance. 

“It is long overdue for the recruitment exercise and in no distance time we shall do the needful.

“We are here also to solicit security collaboration with the police as we want to ensure that whatever we are doing is in line with security guidance.

”We are therefore, ready to give the police the progress report of all our activities in the state,” Mr Ojoka said.

Mr Ojoka, who doubles as Chairman Northern States’ Area of HOSTCON, said the recruitment was in line with the federal government directive to all oil-producing states, saying many host producing communities has since complied.

He commended the federal government for the declaration of Kogi as an oil-producing state which, saying the declaration would enhance the living conditions of the residents of the state.

The group promised to within the week hold peace meeting between Ibaji oil communities in Kogi and its Anambra counterparts on the way forward to embrace peace and shun violence.

Responding, police commissioner Dabban assured the body that the state command would synergise with HOSTCON on security matters.

(NAN)