Facing grave environmental degradation as a result of oil explorations, some Niger Delta communities have threatened to start a ‘war’ with the Federal Government and oil companies if gas flaring is not stopped in the region by October this year.
The communities, grouped under the network of Host Communities of Nigeria Producers of Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM), also accused the government and oil companies of collaborating to the detriment of the people.
“You cannot shift the date (for stopping gas flaring) any longer. As from October (next month) the HOSTCOM will take the bull by the horns, gas flaring will be stopped by force whether the Federal Government and the oil companies like it or not,” the group’s coordinator, Mike Emu, said in Benin.
“It is going to be a battle to be fought by the youth, the so called militants, the women and HOSTCOM. It would be a battle royale. But all that government and the oil companies need to do to avert the ‘war’ is to stop gas flaring between now and October and pay up all the outstanding gas flaring penalty levies. From October anything can happen in the region.”
About 20 billion cubic metres of gas is flared yearly in Nigeria - a country that burns more than any country after Russia. This costs the country about N450 billion yearly in wasted revenue. Government had fixed 2010 as deadline for systemic gas flare-out in the nation’s oil fields
Although, the federal government appeared to be recording some success in its campaign to stop attacks by militants on oil installations, the HOSTCOM threat would, however, be another unwanted distraction to government’s desire to return peace to the region.
The billion Naira debt
Mr. Emu, who said both the Federal Government and oil companies owes a N200 billion debt to the host communities, being the accumulated amount from gas flaring penalty levy over the years, said his group was not in support of the amnesty deal between government and the Niger Delta militants.
He said the network learnt that the amnesty deal had a budget of N50 billion. This money, he said, would be better spent on delta communities.
“The money was not negotiated for,” he said. “The so-called militants never asked for amnesty, neither did the Niger Deltans. The Federal Government should address the issue of what the Niger Deltans are asking for, and not amnesty.”
He said his group was, however, in support of the establishment of the Ministry of Niger Delta.
“If the ministry (of Niger Delta), the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Federal Government impart on the region, in terms of infrastructure development, there would be a tremendous difference,” he said.
Reader Comments (11)
post a comment
* = Required information