SAN FRANCISCO, May 26, (THEWILL) – The Advocacy Committee against Oil Facilities Vandalism set up by Delta state Government has stated that identified elements allegedly carrying out pipeline attacks in the delta have been begged to stop bombing oil facilities and channel their grievance via acceptable means.
The Committee’s assurance came after a one-week campaign tour against pipeline vandalism in the riverine communities of Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.
Bombing of oil pipelines in the delta by militia group had reduced Nigeria’s crude oil production, taking it down from 2.2 million barrels a day to 1.4 million with the militia group, Niger Delta Avengers mainly laying claims to the attacks in the renewed insurgency.
However since the attacks started, there have been claims and counter claims, allegations and counter allegation about the mastermind of the attacks. Some are pointing accusing finger at the wanted ex-MEND warlord, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), prompting a Committee to be set up by the Delta state government to traverse the creeks to campaign against the menace as well as gather intelligence on those involved and remote causes of the attacks.
The Committee headed by the state Deputy Governor, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, which was set up on 16 May, 2016 by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, said that it consulted widely with stakeholders, communities leaders, youths, oil companies in its bid to ensure the cessation of the spate of bombings of critical oil and gas infrastructure in the state.
Addressing newsmen in Government House Annex in Warri on Tuesday, Otuaro said that the Committee, whose members relocated to the riverside communities and conferred with several traditional rulers including the Olu of Warri Kingdom, the Agadagba of Egbema Kingdom, the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom in a bid to deepen intelligence on the activities of those involved directly or indirectly and to identify the remote and immediate cause(s) of the unwholesome acts.
He said that in a bid to achieve its set goals, the Committee had accessed the Otunana Crude pipeline blast site after visiting the Ugborodo-Escravos multi-billion dollar Escravos Gas Plant operated by Chevron. It also discussed with the management of NGC and SPDC Forcados Terminal after flying over SPDC 46-inches trunk-line that was blasted by the vandals.
Otuaro said that the Committee recommended that the Federal Government needed to be properly briefed on the grievances of those who may be involved in the attacks so that the Committee can create platforms for dialogue and avert crises which may affect both the innocent and the non-guilty within the society.
He disclosed that the communities visited by the Committee, whether involved or not in the unwholesome acts, needed to cooperate and be in partnership with the government in providing intelligence.
The deputy governor stated that the communities were told that the cooperation and strategic partnership would help ward off the vandals that can attract an avoidable military invasion that will not differentiate the innocent from the perpetrators.
His words, “We have crisscrossed rivers and rivulets and have spoken to the people. We have heard from the communities and the message was clear. We sounded it clearly that the bombings are a shot in the foot of our people as environmental degradation further endangers the ecosystem and hence our source of livelihood.
“The continued bombing of critical oil facilities is inimical to the national/state economy and hence growth. We cannot continue same that worsens an already bad economy occasioned by dipping oil price in the world market.”
While reiterating that attack on oil installations is a threat to the success of the 2016 national budget of N6.6trillion which is predicated on the three indices of massive borrowing, taxation and 2.2million barrel/day production target, Otuaro said that with the increased spate of oil facility bombings leading to drop in production quantum and wondered if the expectations of the federal budget can be fulfilled.
He said that the Committee however observed that there is an apparent consensus that the Government/Oil companies have continued to neglect the communities resulting in underdevelopment or development not commensurate with production output.
Reeling out other observations, he said that there is total willingness by the communities to help the federal government end oil facility vandalism provided there is a recognized platform to do so without being misconstrued.
He said that the Committee further agreed that military option/invasion, would not help resolve the issue, adding that the Advocacy Committee cannot, in that circumstance, find a pathway that may lead to permanent solution as commissioned.
“That seemingly, there should be no end to dialogue until such a time where both communities and government take full responsibility for and willfully commit to one another on best possible ways to ensure safety of our national assets and enhance development of our communities,” he added.
While expressing optimism that the advocacy campaign would yield purposeful result, the deputy governor disclosed that a lot of organizations and oil companies have identified with the work of the Committee and have indicated interest to collaborate with the team.
He however expressed delight that while the Committee was going about its work in the creeks, the defunct militia group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) including ex-agitators had also condemned the act of vandalism and dissociated itself from the Niger Delta Avengers laying claim to the recent acts of vandalism in the state.
Noting that these are positive developments in the horizon, Otuaro stated that “the Committee, in seeking for peaceful resolution of the current spate of vandalism has also appealed to the identified elements to stop the bombings and channel their grievances through a more acceptable module”.
While expressing gratitude to Governor Okowa for setting up the Committee, the deputy governor stated that the Committee would, in the days ahead, visit more communities, even as he expressed members’ commitment in ensuring sustainable network of structures that will help deepen intelligence in finding the root cause of resurgent attacks.
