Gas Flaring: Reps Demand Oil Companies to Generate Power For Host Communities

The Federal House of Representatives has placed a demand for oil companies to generate power for host communities in Nigeria.

The Red Chamber particularly called on the Federal Ministries of Power and Petroleum Resources to order the companies to convert flared gas to electricity for the communities.

The call followed the unanimous adoption of a motion by Jonathan Ukodhiko of Isoko Federal Constituency during plenary on Tuesday.

According to Ukodhiko, flared gas is a cheap source of electricity that is capable of taking care of the power needs of host communities.

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The lawmaker who made the call specifically for Isoko communities argued that the move will stimulate the country’s economic growth.

He lamented that despite the huge contributions to the nation’s wealth with attendant environmental and health hazards, Isoko Federal Constituency and other host constituencies continue to suffer total blackout even though electricity easily be tapped from the wasted gas resources.

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He said:

“The staff of these International Oil Companies and other oil and production companies working in Isoko land live in extravagant comfort with 24-hour electricity generated internally for operational bases and residential areas.

“Whereas, the host communities and their environs live in squalor, watching helplessly the opulent lifestyle of the companies with their only offence being host communities.

“We are concerned that the deliberate refusal by the oil and gas companies and the successive administrations to permanently tackle the infrastructural deficit like electricity that could have been easily generated from the wasted gases have over the years made Isoko land as well as other communities in the Niger Delta region, a hotbed for protest and agitations that have sometimes crippled the economy and loss of precious human lives.

“We believe that with the environmental hazards of gas flaring resulting to the humongous revenue loss, there is an urgent need to compel the oil and gas companies to activate their corporate social responsibilities.

“They should provide electricity to the communities in Isoko land from the flared gas through gas turbines by taking advantage of the recent Electricity Act of 2023.”

In his ruling, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas mandated the Committee on Legislative Compliance when constituted to ensure implementation of the process.