Agitated by environmental neglect which the oil-producing
communities in the Niger Delta have to grapple with, a coalition of
Ijaw groups have urged the Federal Government to suspend the
current bid rounds for marginal oil fields in the region or face
legal action.
The coalition, comprising the Ijaw Elders Forum (IEF), Ijaw
Professionals Association (IPA) and Ijaw Nations Forum (INF)
strongly expressed its opposition to the auctioning and
exploitation of the resources of the Niger Delta and the continued
reckless destruction of the environment and ecosystem without
consideration for the people.
The Federal Government, through the Department of Petroleum
Resources (DPR), had on June 2 launched the first licensing round
for marginal oilfields since 2002/2003.
However, in a statement jointly signed by leaders of the
organisations, the coalition said the exercise should be cancelled
until the issue of ownership of the natural resources of the region
is addressed.
They also said the remediation of the environment of oil-bearing
communities, compensation for damages already done to the people
and communities and ensuring safety in oil exploitation activities
and protection of oil-bearing communities were conditions that must
be fulfilled for the process to continue.
The statement reads in part:
‘We hereby give notice that legal actions will commence against
the federal government without further notifications if the current
bid rounds for marginal fields is not suspended or cancelled
forthwith and the issues raised are addressed.
‘We call on all men of goodwill and the international community
to prevail on the federal government to address all issues raised
herein before proceeding with any process of auctioning the
resources of the Niger Delta. This injustice must stop.
‘The people have suffered this great injustice over the years
and all efforts to get the oil companies and the Federal Government
to rise up to their responsibilities and address this mindless
destruction of the environment have failed. It is for these reasons
that we call on the Federal Government to suspend or cancel the
current bid rounds for marginal fields until steps are taken.’
Agitated by environmental neglect which the oil-producing
communities in the Niger Delta have to grapple with, a coalition of
Ijaw groups have urged the Federal Government to suspend the
current bid rounds for marginal oil fields in the region or face
legal action.
The coalition, comprising the Ijaw Elders Forum (IEF), Ijaw
Professionals Association (IPA) and Ijaw Nations Forum (INF)
strongly expressed its opposition to the auctioning and
exploitation of the resources of the Niger Delta and the continued
reckless destruction of the environment and ecosystem without
consideration for the people.
The Federal Government, through the Department of Petroleum
Resources (DPR), had on June 2 launched the first licensing round
for marginal oilfields since 2002/2003.
However, in a statement jointly signed by leaders of the
organisations, the coalition said the exercise should be cancelled
until the issue of ownership of the natural resources of the region
is addressed.
They also said the remediation of the environment of oil-bearing
communities, compensation for damages already done to the people
and communities and ensuring safety in oil exploitation activities
and protection of oil-bearing communities were conditions that must
be fulfilled for the process to continue.
The statement reads in part:
‘We hereby give notice that legal actions will commence against
the federal government without further notifications if the current
bid rounds for marginal fields is not suspended or cancelled
forthwith and the issues raised are addressed.
‘We call on all men of goodwill and the international community
to prevail on the federal government to address all issues raised
herein before proceeding with any process of auctioning the
resources of the Niger Delta. This injustice must stop.
‘The people have suffered this great injustice over the years
and all efforts to get the oil companies and the Federal Government
to rise up to their responsibilities and address this mindless
destruction of the environment have failed. It is for these reasons
that we call on the Federal Government to suspend or cancel the
current bid rounds for marginal fields until steps are taken.’