Senate To Review Gas Flaring Laws …Probes NDDC

L-R: Presidents John Mahama of Ghana, Boni Yayi of Benin Republic, Faure Gnassingbe of Togo, Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria and Macky Sall of Senegal, President of Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) Commission, Kadre Ouedraogoa, and President Yahya Jammeh of Gambia, at the 40th anniversary of ECOWAS in Abuja,yesterday

Senate yesterday advocated that fines for oil companies still involved in Gas flaring activities be increased,.
The upper chamber also mandated its committee on gas to commence tour of all states affected by gas flaring in the federation with a view to capturing the extent of devastation recorded.
These formed part of the resolutions of the Senate following a motion   on “Gas flaring in Nigeria particularly in the Niger Delta region”, sponsored by Senator Ighoyota Amorn.
Senate after deliberations on the motion also urged the government to urgently take drastic action against defaulting companies not just by payment of small fines but urged them and other stakeholders to use alternative means of disposal like re-injection of waste gas into the ground for potential future harvesting..
Senate also passed  resolutions urging the Federal Government to reconstitute an “NDDC board that will be truly committed to the achievement of government objective in the Niger Delta region”.
I has received several billions of naira from its funding sources, and as well constructed several roads, electrification, shore protection/jetty, classroom blocks, health centres and other development projects across the region.
He however added that “while this seems to be an impressive record, what is not clear is whether the funds received so far had been used wisely and effectively, what impact the projects have had in reducing the incidence, depth bad severity of poverty in the oil producing communities”.
He lamented that poverty still remains pervasive in the oil producing communities inspite of the huge investment of government to alleviate the plight of these communities.
Considering another motion on “the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Niger Delta Development”, which was sponsored by Matthew Urhoghide, from Edo South,
Following debates on the motion, Senate directed its committee on Niger Delta Affairs to audit all development projects by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and ascertain if the value for money has been achieved so far
The Senate also passed a resolutions urging the federal government to reconstitute an “NDDC board that will be truly committed to the achievement of government objective in the Niger Delta region”.
Presenting the motion Senator Uroghide said the NDDC I has received several billions of naira from its funding sources, and as well constructed several roads, electrification, shore protection/jetty, classroom blocks, health centres and other development projects across the region.
He however added that “while this seems to be an impressive record, what is not clear is whether the funds received so far had been used wisely and effectively, what impact the projects have had in reducing the incidence, depth bad severity of poverty in the oil producing communities”.
He lamented that poverty still remains pervasive in the oil producing communities inspite of the huge investment of government to alleviate the plight of these communities.
the Senate mandated the committee to cause a full investigation into the activities of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), to ascertain the level of its impact in the oil communities in the South-South region of the country.

Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi