The Ezonebe Oil and Gas Producing Communities Association has condemned the National Assembly over the delay in passing the Petroleum Industry Bill to law.
In a press statement earlier in the week and signed by it’s National President, Archbishop Irawo Joseph, the group raised several issues the bedevilling the Nigerian state.
The statement reads in full;
The Nigeria state is nightmarish following the threatening insecurity and the economic uncertainties that bedeviled the nation.
As a body overseeing the oil and gas producing communities of Ijaw extraction across the Niger Delta region, we are quite abreast with the problems orchestrated and manipulated by the ruling class that have thrown the nation into what we are experiencing today.
Consequent upon the above, we make bold our position on the following issues which is intended to create for stability for the economy and governance.
1. Open Grazing
The Nigeria State have never had any law in support of grazing reserves. This is to say that the government is passive on this issue thus creating all unnecessary tension and unrest across the nation. We say categorically that the Fulani herdsmen should be confined to the states where the business was established. They have enough land in those areas more than any other areas in the South South, South East or South West. We will no longer tolerate the terror Fulani herdsmen have unleashed on this nation. We have the oil and gas which is the lifeline that is giving the nation the strong cord of livelihood.
2. Refineries
It’s a pity that the refineries in the nation are not working and the increasing price of petrol and other products is alarming. The Warri refinery was stopped from refining because of the Dangote Refinery in construction to completion stage, duly because of the large and high investment inputted by mostly high profile politicians across the nation. They want all other state owned refineries to die for their interest to be driven. This is common with failed states like Nigeria where national interest is exchanged for personal interest. This narrative must change by government courageous commitment to revamp all the refineries.
3. Petroleum Industry Bill
Multinational Oil Companies. We are aware that the multinational oil and gas producing companies have moved to Lagos making the state the only economic hub. This is an anomaly and detrimental to the Oil and Gas Producing Communities in the Niger Delta. We call for the relocation of all the companies to the states where they get the oil.
4. Niger Delta Development Commission Substantive Board
We associate with all those calling for the institution of the board, and therefore call on the government to set up the board without any delay.
We are sure that the government is capable of addressing the issues as raised. The lack of political will and insensitivity on the part of government is responsible for the retrogressive imbalance in the nation.
