How Nigeria’s Oil, Gas Industry Can Develop – Lawmaker

R-L: Country Chairman, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Mr Mutiu Sunmonu, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Education, Mr Richard Ofurum and Paramount Ruler of Elekahia, Chief Anthony Akarolo, at the inauguration of SPDC/ Discovery Channel Global Education Partnership Learning Centre in Port Harcourt,yesterday.

The Nigerian Government will develop its extractive industry particularly the  oil and gas by learning the experiences of Latin American countries.

The Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Leyii Kwanee who stated this yesterday while expressing the need for Nigerian government to learn the experiences of Latin American countries like Mexico and Venezuela in handling pollution, investment and environment with the aim of developing such areas. Hon Kwanee who was speaking at the formal launching of the DFID Funded National Learning Groups on Evidences and Lessons from Latin America, said the people of the Niger Delta would want to  know whether the environment of these countries were polluted and degraded with fauna and flora perishing with no aquatic life with little or no compensation.

The Deputy Speaker also noted that the experiences would help expose to the people of the  oil producing areas that do not invest in the oil and gas resources, adding that the experiences of these Latin American countries would provide a platform for argument, stand, policy and law to address the Nigerian situation.

According to him, “this is why we need to share experiences with not only Latin Americans but South Asia and some African countries.

He noted that Ogonis and indeed Niger Delta had suffered a lot as a result of oil exploration and exploitation.

The Deputy Speaker tasked the 15 nominees who are lecturers that would undergo the learning programmes in Latin America to take the challenge seriously, stressing that they would be in a position to suggest ideas and actions in addressing the myriads of problems facing the nation’s extractive industry, particularly the oil and gas.

He, however, said that the project would help in initiating a threshold that would improve the standard of living of the people and build capacity in the development of the nation.

“I have no doubt that the 15 noble men and women will discuss on how to promote socially and environmentally friendly investment using the best practices not only in Latin America but in other parts of the world such that conflicts are peacefully managed rather than been exacerbated”, he said.

Earlier, the Rector of the Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori, Sir Obianko Nwolu Elechi, said the Evidence and Lessons from Latin America (ELLA) project was not only a challenge to academic staff alone, but to all staff of the institution, adding  that the project must produce polices that would help develop the people and the nation.

Elechi regretted that those who came from the oil producing areas could not benefit from the products in their land due to wrong policies.

R-L: Country Chairman, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Mr Mutiu Sunmonu, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Education, Mr Richard Ofurum and Paramount Ruler of Elekahia, Chief Anthony Akarolo, at the inauguration of SPDC/ Discovery Channel Global Education Partnership Learning Centre in Port Harcourt,yesterday.