As Vice-President Yemi
Osinbajo begins an official visit to the Niger Delta region today with
Delta State as his first port of call, a Niger Delta group, Izon-Ibe Oil
and Gas producing Communities Association (IOGPCA) has asked President
Muhammadu Buhari to grant more licences to Ijaw people and other
indigenes in the region in fulfilment and implementation of the Nigeria
Content Development Monitoring Board Act.
The group also wants the
federal government to correct what it described as ‘’the poor
implementation’’ of the Local Content Act and the activities of the
Nigeria Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on the area of oil
shipment in the maritime industry.
The senior special assistant
to the vice president on media and publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, said at
the weekend that the vice-president would also visit Bayelsa and Rivers
States at a date to be announced. Akande said the visit was a further
demonstration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s determination to
peacefully and comprehensively address the Niger Delta situation.
Speaking with THISDAY
yesterday, the association’s spokesman, Richard Koremene, said that the
recent statement credited to the Executive Secretary of the board, Mr.
Simbi Wobote, saying that of the 2,254 registered ships lifting crude
oil, only 848, representing 37.5 per cent, were Nigerian-owned was not
in the interest of the oil producing region.
According to him: ‘’Our
concern and the question we want to ask is “of the 848 Nigerian-owned
registered vessels, how many are Ijaw or Niger Delta-owned in the
industry? “Is it that Ijaw people or Niger Delta people are not
qualified? We are sure the answer to these questions is no. The Ijaws
who produce more the Nigeria’s oil for our collective survival cannot
continue to be marginalised in the oil business.
‘’This is where we join force
with the Chief E. K Clark-led Pan Niger Delta dialogue team with the
federal government and these were among others things presented to
President Muhammadu Buhari to grant Niger Deltans more oil blocs.”
Meanwhil, Bayelsa
State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, has called on the federal
government to fast-track the ongoing peace process in the Niger Delta,
with a view to building consensus on the economic, political and
security issues to achieve lasting peace in the region.
Dickson, who
made the call at the wreath-laying ceremony of the 2017 Armed Forces
Remembrance Day celebrations in Yenagoa on yesterday, expressed his
administration’s commitment towards partnering with all stakeholders to
maintain law and order in the state.
According to
the Governor, Bayelsa has no room for any form of criminality,
including kidnapping, pipeline vandalism and sea piracy, and therefore,
urged all aggrieved parties to adopt dialogue in resolving the issues.
He also
called on the leadership of the various security agencies in the country
to handle the deployment of their officers and men in a manner that
would promote the overall national interest, rather than achieve
partisan objectives.
“We condemn
the reckless deployment of security person for parochial reasons. This
state at an appropriate time will resist it. But Bayelsa is ready to
work with every security official deployed to the state to create a
stable and enabling environment to protect lives and our strategic
national assets.”
Dickson, who
maintained that Bayelsa and the entire Niger Delta Region cannot make
any meaningful progress in terms of investments and job creation,
stressed the need for all to work together to achieve enduring peace and
development.
While
appreciating the sacrifices and contributions of the Nigerian Armed
Forces, the governor particularly lauded President Muhammadu Buhari and
the various service chiefs for the recent successes recorded in the
fight against insurgency in the North-east.
He
emphasised the need for all levels of government and other stakeholders
to continually support the nation’s fallen and surviving heroes to
enhance their welfare as well as promote the training of the armed
forces as they perform the critical role of protecting the democratic
tenets and territorial integrity of the country.
Dickson, who
commended President Buhari for directing his deputy Professor Yemi
Osinbajo to visit states of the Niger Delta, announced the state
government’s readiness to receive and engage the federal government team
in a productive dialogue.
The governor
was joined in the laying of wreaths by his deputy, Rear Admiral
Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd), Speaker of the state House of Assembly,
Hon. Konbowei Benson, state Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri,
represented by the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice
Daniel Ayah.
Others
include the Chairman of Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers,
King Alfred Diete-Spiff, service commanders in the state, the Assistant
Commandant General and Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Mr. Effiom Igirigi and a representative of widows of the fallen heroes.
• FG should fast-track peace process, says Dickson
By Iyobosa Uwugiaren and Ogheneuvede Ohwovoriole in Abuja
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