N’Delta Defence Makes Fresh Demands …As HNDC Slams Avengers

The Niger Delta Defence group has listed fresh demands to the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The demands include that “all refineries and petrochemical companies must shut down their activities and leave the region immediately until the Federal Government is ready to turn around the fortunes of our people.”
In a statement made available to The Tide via email, the group said the government should as a matter of urgency visit the demands or face massive action which shall cripple the economy and bring it to a standstill.
The group is also asking that “the UNEP report implementation on Ogoniland should commence immediately.
“No attempt must be made to resume oil exploration in Ogoniland until the UNEP report has been 100 per cent implemented.
“The Federal Government must immortalise Ken Saro- Wiwa and other Niger Delta agitators who were gruesomely killed.”
The group further insisted that “The Niger Delta region must be allowed to control its resources.”
It further accused the incumbent administration of turning the fight against corruption into the fight against perceived political opponents from the Niger Delta region.
The statement further reads: the “the Ogoni cleanup which is still a scam by the Federal Government is now being  used by some selfish and political gladiators to gain popularity and score cheap political points.
“Even the 500,000 empowerment programme has now been programmed to favour only a particular political party.
“Today, instead of the Nigerian government to develop the region, it is now using most of our people to destabilise and set confusion in order to divide us to achieve its  selfish aim,” the group said.
The Niger Delta Avengers, who came to the spotlight in February, has in recent months allegedly carried out  attacks on oil pipelines and facilities run by international companies, including Shell and United States firm, Chevron.
The Tide gathered that attacks were partly responsible for a fall in Nigeria’s oil production of 800,000 barrels per day.
Meanwhile, a non-governmental organisation based in the Netherlands, Hope for Niger Delta Campaign (HNDC) has condemned the activities of Niger Delta militants in the region.
Those affected are groups that have claimed responsibility for attacks on oil and gas installations in the region and also vowed to reduce oil production in the region to zero.
In a statement made available to The Tide via email, yesterday, the HNDC  applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for ordering the withdrawal of soldiers from the region in a cease fire move.
Signed by its Founder and Executive Director, Mr Sunny Ofehe, the HNDC said that the attacks will not only cripple oil production but will have serious health implications for the people of the region.
The group urged the militants to use the window provided to dialogue and present their agitation to the Federal Government if they actually are in the interest of the Niger Delta people.
“The environment has faced despoliation from crude oil extraction. The main occupations of the people which are  farming and fishing have been gravely affected by oil spills and pollution from gas flaring.
“Any meaningful agitation should be targeted at addressing these situations and calling on the government and oil multinational companies to meet these needs and remediate the environment of the people. This must be done in an organised manner with all stakeholders.”
Meanwhile, members of the Gbaramatu Communities Chairmen Forum have written to President Buhari, demanding  the construction of an Export Processing Zone, Gas Revolution Industrial Park, Ogidigben and Gbaramatu Seaport component of the projects.
In a letter signed by Demebi Johnbull and 10 others, the forum said: “the benefits of these projects are enormous as they can absorb the teeming restive youth and further boost economic activities of the communities, Delta State and the federation”.

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana