South South Govs, Stakeholders Demand Restructuring, Relocation Of NNPC Subsidiaries

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South-South Governors and stakeholders from the geopolitical
zone have demanded restructuring in line with the principles of
true federalism to guarantee peace, security and stability of the
country.

The stakeholders also called for the revitalisation of all the
ports in the region such as the Calabar, Port Harcourt and Warri
ports.

They also asked the Federal Government to immediately privatise
all the refineries to make them functional and boost the economy of
the region.

The stakeholders further demanded relocation of all the
subsidiaries of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)
to the region.

The Governors observed the country was not at peace with itself
and not working as it should, particularly, for the people of the
South-South region.

Chairman of the South-South Governors forum, Ifeanyi Okowa,
presented the position of the zone during the regional
stakeholders’ meeting with presidential delegation led by the Chief
of Staff to the President, Amb. Ibrahim Gambari at the Government
House, Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

Okowa explained residents of South-South were committed to
restructuring the country to guarantee true federalism and
devolution of powers to the states to create and manage their own
police and security architecture under a federal structure.

The Governors called for relocation of the headquarters of major
oil companies, NNPC subsidiaries from Lagos and Abuja to the
South-South region.

They requested immediate implementation of the consent judgment
entered in the Supreme Court Suit No: SC/964/2016 to enable the
South-South region gets its share of $55bn shortfall of collection
on deep offshore and inland basin production sharing contracts.

The governors further called for the reconstruction and
rehabilitation of the region’s major seaports in Port Harcourt,
Calabar and Warri to enhance the economic development of the
region.

They demanded that the two refineries in Port Harcourt and one
in Warri that have continued to bleed the country’s resources in
the name of turnaround maintenance should be privatised.

Gambari said the stakeholders meeting was at the instance of
President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said the President ordered the presidential delegation
comprising all the ministers from the region to visit and consult
the representatives of the people regarding the recent EndSARS
protest.

Gambari noted that reports indicated that there were instances ,
where breakdown of law and order was reported across various
locations in the South-South states.

He lauded the governors of the South-South states for their
quick response and actions in addressing the EndSARS crisis.

Those who attended the meeting were Govs Nyesom Wike (Rivers);
Ben Ayade (Cross River); Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom); Douye Diri
(Bayelsa) and Godwin Obaseki (Edo).

Others were Minister of Niger Delta Godswill Akpabio; Minister
of State for Petroleum Timipre Sylva; Minister of State for Power
Goddy Jedy- Agba; Minister of State for Niger Delta Festus Keyamo;
Minister of Health Osagie Ehanire and Minister of Information, Lai
Mohammad.

The Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi was, however,
absent.

Other eminent persons present were the National Chairman of the
Pan Niger Delta Forum, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, rtd; former
President, Nigerian Bar Association, Onueze Okocha (SAN);
President, Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Worldwide, among others.