Management of Oil/Gas Exploration: Niger Delta Leaders Tell FG to Take Lessons from Norway
By Ekemini Simon
Leaders and communities in the Niger Delta have proposed alternatives to the crisis bedeviling the oil rich region.
At a conference held on Thursday in Uyo and tagged the Niger Delta Alternative Convergence (NDAC) designed to draft the Niger Delta Manifesto for Socio-Ecological Justice, leaders of the region insisted that the people in the region and the federal government must as a matter of urgency move beyond the talks to actions in a bid to finding lasting solutions to the Socio-ecological crisis occasioned by poor management of oil and gas exploration in the region.
In his presentation, the former commissioner for Environment in Bayelsa State, Dr. Iniruo Wills noted that Nigeria has continued to talk about the problems of the Niger Delta without taking actions as if it is impossible to address the challenges.
Wills insisted that if the Nigerian government is genuinely interested in solving the challenges of the region, it must take lessons from how Norway operates its oil and gas extractive sector.
Norway, one of the world’s biggest oil exporting countries, has a $1.3 trillion sovereign wealth fund, the biggest in the world.
He said ” Norway is a major oil producing country like Nigeria. Norway has built one of the biggest sovereign wealth funds from savings from its oil production to over a trillion dollars. That gives an indication of the importance of the oil industry to Norway.
” But even with that, Norway is still protecting its environment. Norway is also known as a fishing power. It did not have to destroy its environment or livelihood in order for other economic activities to thrive. Why is Nigeria the opposite? Livelihood is replaced. Every sensible government should recognize community as the centre point of economic activities.”
Wills recommended that it is imperative the government should recognize communities as the centre point of economic activities stressing that God had reasons to have his infinite wisdom allocated natural resources in communities.
Earlier, the Convener of the conference and Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Nnimmo Bassey called for the implementation of the manifestos of the region.
He insisted it was time the region demanded real climate action, including best practices in the extractive sector and clean up of the region.
While stressing that the demand is not that of charity but justice, Bassey offered insight to the fact that failure to take immediate action may lead to the washing away of the Niger Delta communities.
He added ” it is time for us to accept that without a healthy environment we cannot be healthy people.
‘’Considering that the world is moving from fossil fuels and that Nigeria is struggling unsuccessfully to meet her OPEC allowed production quota; considering that oil theft continues apace, oil spills, gas flares and dumping of toxic wastes and sundry ecological destruction continue unabated.
‘’We risk not just being left behind by the world, we risk remaining mortally wounded and utterly stranded if we do not brace up, insist on an urgent transition from this destructive activity, demand and insist on a clean-up of the entire region.
‘’Tomorrow will be too late. This is the time to examine and check-mate the moves by transnational companies to divest from their ancient infrastructure, drying wells, polluted fields and sneak away to enjoy their loot.’’
” Things cannot continue this way. We have demands and resolutions in the proposed Niger Delta Manifesto shared to delegates. Let’s all rise to be counted, demand that politicians declare their environmental plans before they gain our votes; let us demand real climate action including a halt to gas flaring and a restoration of our ecosystems.
‘’Let us demand action to stall the washing away of our communities. After 64 years of a nightmare, it is time to wake up, it is time to demand socio-ecological justice. We are not calling for charity, we are calling for justice.’’
Earlier, the Chairman on the occasion, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah harped on the need for restructuring and resource control if Niger Delta must advance and Nigeria experience peace and development.
He lauded HOMEF for the initiative behind the Niger Delta Alternative Convergence stating that it will afford the region the opportunity to review its journey and strategize on its actions.
Obong Attah added ” We must not lose sight of the fact that the ideals of total resource control have not yet been achieved. However, when the volume of money has been thrown at the Niger Delta region through third benefit sharing system and agencies at the NDDC, the Ministry for Niger Delta Affairs, the 13 percent derivation and the Host Community Development Trust Fund in the PIA, we must be ready to ask and provide answers to question as to; do we need new method of administration, do we need a complete system of change, do we need some form of consolidation of funds? Do we need new legislation, how do we ensure accountability?”
The Former who described the story of Niger Delta as a paradox of tremendous wealth charged people of the region to create impact in the little leadership opportunities they have.