Gas flare: Host communities demand release of N98bn penalty
— 7th November 2017
From BENEDICT ODINAKA EZEOKA writing for ODOGWU MEDIA.
Oil
producIng and Host communities of Nigeria, Producing Oil and Gas
(HOSCON), have called on the Federal Government to release the approved
N98billion gas flare penalty.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, Tuesday, National Chairman of HOSCON, Mr. Mike Emuh, said the release had been over delayed.
Explaining
the exigency of the payment, he stated: “The host community ought to be
paid as a result of industrial confusion, acidic rain and health
hazards. This is a gross misplacement of priority, the funds should be
given to the host communities that suffered the pains of gas flaring in
Nigeria”.
He
also urged the National Assembly, especially members from the Niger
Delta region to ensure the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB)
before the end of the year, so that 13 per cent equity would be released
to the host communities.
“Nigerians are good at making policies but we are far at
implementing them and we all still have to face the fact that it is the
only law that can favour the whole community.”
Emuh
also clamoured for a direct allocation of 13 per cent derivation funds
to the oil and gas bearing communities through developmental agencies
that should be monitored by the Government.
“We
are tired of state governments’ misapplication of our God given
resources. If APC wants to win 2019 election and you leave 13 per cent
derivation in the hands of PDP government, that means we have no money.
We need to remove the money and give it to the host communities and let
them decide who they would give their vote for”, Emuh advised.
The
chairman further urged the government to provide employment to the
10,000 youths trained on pipeline vandalism and security matters, adding
that they could be employed as informants to work with the Attorney
General of the Federation (AGF) on oil theft.
“Let it not be like the case of the amnesty programme where you train youths without plans of employment,” he said.
GAS FLARE: COMMUNITIES DEMAND N98BN PENALTY.
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on
Tuesday, November 07, 2017
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