Ijaw Professionals Association (IPA) on Tuesday urged the implementation of the Federal Government’s directive to International Oil Companies (IOCs) to relocate to the Niger Delta.
IPA made the call in a statement signed by Maj.-Gen. Paul Toun, IPA Board of Trustees Chairman, Mr Iniruo Wills, Homeland Chapter President, and Mr Elaye Otrofanowei, President, Lagos chapter.
According to the statement made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa, IPA described the directive to IOCs to relocate their head offices to their operational areas as “historic”.
“This directive conveyed by Prof. Yemi Osinbajo March 2, 2017, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, during his equally encouraging stakeholder consultation tours to all states in the long-neglected and distressed Niger Delta region is very commendable.,
“It is the strongest signal in many years that the Federal Government may sincerely begin to address the age-old challenges of the region from the roots rather than the usual cosmetic approach of trying to dust off the symptoms on the surface.
“The presidential directive answers one of the cardinal demands of petroleum host communities over the last half century.
“For the oil producing and heavily oil-polluted communities and states in the Niger Delta, this might be the most authentic evidence of the local content policy.
“It was recently enacted into law but is yet to be of much practical value to our peoples’ lives and local economies in the region.
“Hopefully, it would also mark a departure from the mutually counter-productive tactics of seeking to suppress agitation and its regrettable ramifications by military might,” IPA stated.
The Ijaw group noted that speed and commitment was of essence by all stakeholder segments in implementing the policy direction, adding that the momentum must not only be maintained, but maximised as well.
IPA urged the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, to drive an accelerated process for the relocation of all oil and gas companies to their areas of operation.
The group also noted that the relocation directive was expected to include the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, its various subsidiaries and the relevant regulatory and capacity building agencies.
The agencies include the Department of Petroleum Resources, Petroleum Technology Development Fund and National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency.
It noted that the agencies had remained at a dysfunctional distance far from the geographical centres of their operations and mandate, hence impeding their performance.
“We trust that the industry operators, especially but not restricted to the multinational oil companies, will cooperate fully and swiftly on this declared thrust of the Government of Nigeria.
“It is also our minimum expectation from the indigenous operators that they will follow suit.
“Moreover as they are all beneficiaries of the petroleum industry Nigerian Local Content Policy and in particular, recent divestments of oil mining leases and marginal fields.
“The peoples of the Niger Delta region and the rest of Nigeria, look forward to this,” IPA stated.
It urged the governors of the affected states, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, the Niger Delta Development Commission and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to seize the moment.
The group advised the stakeholders to work with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the Minister of Budget and National Planning to facilitate the actualisation of the directive.
“This should include an immediate and mutually coordinated short-to-medium-term infrastructure and amenities plan, with clearly defined stakeholder commitments on funding and other enablers, the group stated.
Discussion about this post