From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
President, Host Communities Network, Barbs Preye Pawuru, yesterday, said vandalisation of pipelines in the Niger Delta will not stop unless the Federal Government addresses the issue of underdevelopment besetting the area.
He disclosed this at a one-day electoral dialogue on gas flared penalties, LPG utilisation, GHG emissions and Nigeria’s nationally-determined contributions (NDCs) commitment in Benin, organised by the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, ERA/FoEN.
Preye who lauded the Federal Government for assigning Tompolo to protect the pipelines in the region, said much needed to be done to reduce the high level of underdevelopment in the oil-producing states.
Preye argued that the natural resources which should be a blessing to the people of the areas but had become a curse to them.
He said it was loss-loss situation to the people of the region, and win-win situation for the Federal Government and the exploration companies.
Also speaking, Comrade Omobude Agho, ex-coordinator-general of the Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO), while corroborating the presentation of one of the speakers, said the community where the oil was first discovered in the South-South region, has almost become a shadow of itself.
He said for gas flaring to be a thing of the past in the country, the people in the host communities must be educated on its dangers.
For Friday Ogieriakhi, former member representing Orhionmwon in the state House of Assembly, political parties should make gas flaring an issue of policy thrust just, adding that the government should compel the oil companies to carry out Environmental Impact Assessment on their host communities.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Executive Director, ERA/FoEN, Barr. Chima Williams, challenged the people from affected communities to interrogate oil companies and activities carried out in their areas as regards oil exploration and other activities.