Despite the resurgence of the crises in the Niger Delta as well as the on-going battle between the various militant groups and the Joint Task Force (JTF), the Federal Government has assured that the current tension and crisis does not post any threat to oil pipelines and other facilities in the oil rich region.
The relative peace that has been enjoyed in the region following the provision of the amnesty program of the federal government was recently disturbed when militants went back and took up arms against the JTF who have since commenced raiding of the militant ridden communities and creeks of the Niger delta.
However, an assurance was given in Lagos last week by the special adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on petroleum matters, Dr. Emmanuel Egbogah that the current crisis will not affect oil installations in the host communities.
Egbogah who was speaking to journalist at the Regional Deepwater Offshore West African Conference in Lagos assured that despite the crisis in the region, oil facilities will not be affected and that the host communities in the Niger delta will not allow pipelines, installations and other facilities be tampered with because government has accommodated their yearnings and has since made them participant in the business.
According to him there will be no justification if such act occurs, “the demand of the oil communities are significant, I myself championed the cause of giving these assets to the host communities where they are now participants, we are in the business together and therefore they actually have the responsibility to protect the facilities and pipelines” he said.
Continuing, he warned the warring militants that any tampering with government assets that occurs in the region will automatically result in cancellation of the deal. In his words he said “We have written them that any act of vandalism will invalidate this agreement and the dividend they are going to get, so it is their responsibility to protect that which is their own”
He explained that the federal government had started this partnership by giving out ten percent equity participation to the host communities but have now done a modification of it to make it more implementable, he also said that the new dividend is now higher than the initial ten percent planned and that all the communities will get the full share of what belongs to them.
Giving further hindsight into the agreement, Egbogah explained that “the value of this dividend which is based on the assets value that is resident in their communities will give them significant control and ownership in the oil and gas business, so why should it create a problem now that they are getting more”.
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