Business
Ijaw Oil Communities Protest Neglect
Oil-bearing Communities from the Ijaw areas of Delta State have protested alleged neglect in the administration of oil funds by the Government and State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).
The communities, under the auspices of Izon-Ebe oil producing communities forum (IOPCF), said DESOPADEC had failed since its inception to grant audience to representatives of the oil-bearing communities.
Consequently, they lamented that they have not been able to make adequate input, as stakeholders, in the administration of the commission as well as in oil and gas issues of the state.
A letter to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan by IOPCF’s President and Secretary, Chief Favour Izoukumor and Moses Edougha, noted that the forum had adopted and supported the use of peaceful means to address issues in the past; adding that they would continue to follow such procedures in the future.
“Be that as it may, we are compelled to put our grievances before you (Uduaghan) on the past antecedents of DESOPADEC and special Assistant to the Governor on oil and gas. Such omissions have been done in the past and have left the communities without representation”.
Meanwhile, the Urhobo Elders Leaders Council has called for the adoption of the Ledum mettle-led Technical Committee Report on the Niger Delta by the Federal Government.
The group also called for sincerity on the part of the federal government in its amnesty offer to repentant militants.
It warned that henceforth government should ensure full and regular release of funds due to all its intervention agencies in the region.
The group maintained that despite the controversy trailing government’s use of the term ‘amnesty’ nevertheless, the initiative can put a permanent stop to the carnage created by the conflict.