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Politics Of Oil, Solid Minerals …A Case Of Numbers Being Strength

Published

9 years ago

October 31, 2016

The agitation for economic integration, political relevance and environmental protection by individuals and interest groups within the Niger Delta did not start today. Before it snow-balled into full-blown insurgency, well-meaning elite and indeed political and environmental activists had at various times made the case for the respect of the universal law on land ownership and why Nigeria’s Land Use Decree was an enactment of oppression.
Men like Chief (Senator) Melford Okilo, Chief Harold Dappa Biriye and Ken Saro Wiwa among others of blessed memory were civil in their agitations, arguments that drew global support for their noble cause. They insisted that the act of denying land owners proceeds of their inheritance was barbaric, suffocating, marginalizing and indeed oppressing.
Even with facts of history on the issue of derivation, the level of environmental hazards occasioned by oil prospection and production, the pollution of the people’s rivers and swamps, the threat to their major occupations, fishing and farming and above all, the discrimination against the youth of the affected areas, the political class weighed heavily in favour of the majority tribes dismissed the people’s agitation with a wave of the hand.
So frustrating, even the issue of derivation was also politicised. Infact, it was a case of persistent civil protest from one government to another, both civilian and military. At some point under the Buhari military leadership, derivation was as low as 1.5 percent, even with all the environmental degradation suffered by the people.
What was most annoying was that the people of the rural areas, where, oil was daily being drilled, saw electricity light in house-boats and estates of oil companies but used kerosene lamps.
The people saw oil company workers drinking bottled water and threw the wastes into their rivers, which also obstructed fishing, but drank from wells and sometimes stagnant water.
That two-class syndrome also ignited the vulnerability of the girl-child, who became play thing for highly paid oil workers. The freebies such vulnerable girls got from the predatory pastime of the red-eyed workers encouraged easily prostitution and sent many out of schools.
Employment of the males was also a pipe dream. Each oil company involved in the production of oil went to the rural communities with their own work force, and ensured sustenance of the status quo by manipulating posting of youth corps members from their own tribes who are eventually employed, instead of the qualified many within the community and state.
Even the Act providing low level jobs for locals was observed in the breach. With that, the frustrated youth thus became mere tools in the hands of oil workers, to whom they served as pimps, for cutting grass at the estates of the companies, sparingly as night guards and at other times for clearing of gutters.
Interestingly, because operational modus was signed directly with the Federal Government, the oil bearing communities, with all their environmental stakes were insulated from the operations or got peanuts. Like the proverbial man surrounded by water with none to drink, the Niger Delta youth saw unbridled affluence and financial rascality daily flaunted by oil workers to lure their sisters, aunts and even mothers out of matrimony, but could not touch.
That indeed further fuelled the violent agitation. With nothing to rely on for sustenance, since their rivers and seas were covered by oil wastes and sometimes leaks from their pipes with devastating effects on all sea creatures, sea foods like periwinkles, oysters, shrimps and mangrove crabs among others daily exterminated by pollutants and with no hope of change, what was once a civil debate, humble protest, mature agitation and simple appeal by the elite turned to violent threats, militancy and insurgency.
The major demand became Resource Control, and arrangement which would allow the people and governments of oil producing communities and states to control the resources from their God-given land, as obtains everywhere in the free world. The youth wanted true and practical federalism which would force states to pay taxes through the management of their own resources.
But for over 50 years, that simple request remains unanswered. Each time, their protestation turned to a violent kind, given that a hungry man is near-frequently an angry man, the oppressors would demonstrate their heavy handedness through the deployment of arms and ammunition to quell any insurrection while the central issue remained unsolved.
In all these years, the argument put forward by the political elite of the majority North and their South Western collaborators has been that oil is a gift from God and so belongs to all, therefore, primary owners of the land, being Nigerians, cannot lay claim of singular ownership to such resources. According to them, since the treasure remained buried beneath the land, within Nigerian geographical space, it belongs to all Nigerians, and so must be centrally manage, as if the Niger Delta became Nigeria by choice.
With that conclusion, proceeds from oil go faraway Abuja to sustain even states that contribute little or nothing, apart from being lucky to be under the protection of the majority.
That is also why the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) has not been passed for nearly six years. Part of the bill seeks to make paltry allowance for oil bearing communities, not just to give them a sense of belonging but also instill in them the need to protect oil company assets located in their arears, since they are direct beneficiaries.
That too appears to the strong majority opposition too much of a sacrifice, since oil is simply a gift from God. But to whom? The same God that gave the North more fertile land for agricultural and livestock activities and rivers and swamps to Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Edo, among others for fishing? With such rivers, seas and swamps polluted by production of a commodity that now belongs to all, would the North also willingly share proceeds of their agricultural earnings?
Each time these questions are raised, the answer has remained the same. Oil, being buried beneath the land within Nigeria’s territory, remains a gift from God. But in their comfort zone, they forget that those who make peaceful change impossible make violent change inevitable, as the sages say.
Could that have accounted for the large scale insurgency under the Yar’Adua Presidency and subsequent pronouncement of amnesty? Unfortunately, all other projects that went with the amnesty, especially the East West Road still remain uncompleted. Still too much infrastructural deficit. Still too much discrimination against qualified manpower of Niger Delta origin.
Bottomline, Niger Deltans cannot claim benefits from their own lands, because everything sourced therefrom is a gift from God, and belongs to all.
That is why it came to me as a rude shock last week, to read that the Adamawa State Government, in Northern Nigeria is to start exporting solid minerals including uranium, gold, lead, diamond and platinum, according to that state’s Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Shanti Shashi.
Infact, Commissioner Shashi said BTP, a Swiss company has signed a $56bn contract for solid minerals exploration in a very short while.
When did gold, lead, diamond, platinum and uranium become cash crops? What different law excludes these products, buried beneath the land as Gift from God? Or is it simply a green light for resource management and control?
It is most unlikely, because even as recent as last week, President Muhammadu Buhari alluded to the fact that with all the talk about diversification of the economy, oil production still remains the mainstay of the Nigerian economy, and so would do everything humanly possible to improve production and by extension, improved earnings.
My Agony is that it is very likely that the policy of resource control would come into effect, now through the back door, and later officially only when oil in the Niger Delta dries up completely. That will be when, Borno State begins oil production in large quantities.
Here, perhaps is a window for state governments in oil bearing Niger Delta to go into partnerships with willing foreign investors to start oil prospection and production before oil dries up.
Let’s not dismiss this merely as view thought out in recession, with a near empty stomach. It is a window shut for over 50 years of oil exploration.

Soye Wilson Jamabo

Featured

Oil & Gas: Rivers Remains The Best Investment Destination – Fubara

Published

1 day ago

December 1, 2025

The Tide

Governor Siminalayi Fubara says Rivers State remains the best investment destination for investors in the oil and gas sector.

Governor Fubara stated that since the economic development of Rivers State is closely connected to the growth of the oil and gas industry, his administration has continued to collaborate with the Federal Government and host communities to protect natural assets in the sector.

The Governor stated this during the Nigeria and Entrepreneurship Summit and Honours (NESH) Foundation Oil and Gas Roundtable in Port Harcourt.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, he pointed out that since the economy of Nigeria relies substantially on the oil and gas sector, his administration will continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to ramp up production.

“The Nigerian oil and gas sector is the lifeblood of our nation’s economy, contributing over 90% of Federal Government’s foreign exchange earnings. Similarly, Rivers State, home to numerous national and multinational oil and gas companies, is the centre of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon industry, with the State’s oil and gas resources generating over 40% of the country’s revenue.

“?Considering this, the survival and economic development of Rivers State are closely connected to the growth of the oil and gas industry. That is why, since the beginning of this administration, we have focused on safeguarding the national oil and gas assets in collaboration with the Federal Government, security agencies, communities and other stakeholders, and we will maintain this commitment for as long as it is necessary.

“Furthermore, we have established and maintained a conducive, peaceful, and secure environment for companies to open and flourish in the State as part of a strategic plan to stimulate our economy, generate jobs, and enhance the well-being of our citizens.

“We therefore recognise and applaud the vital role that indigenous companies are currently playing in bridging gaps and advancing the development of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry,” he stressed.?

Governor Fubara affirmed that Nigerian-funded companies can only succeed and make meaningful contributions to the nation’s economic prosperity when challenges that limit the nation are effectively tackled, and expressed his administration’s stand to support indigenous organisations such as the Nigeria and Entrepreneurship Summit and Honours (NESH) Foundation.

Declaring the roundtable open, the Governor assured the Nigerian-Owned companies in the oil and gas sector, that “we are ready and willing to respond positively to any administrative, policy, or legislative recommendations within our jurisdiction as a subnational State.”

The Founder of the Nigeria and Entrepreneurship Summit and Honours (NESH) Foundation, Mr Emeka ugwu-Ozu, disclosed that the summit, held only in an oil and gas producing place, is a forum for all in the industry to brainstorm and suggest best practices for local players.

“This roundtable discussion takes place in only oil and gas producing states, and it is intentional. And that is to make sure that sooner, it becomes like what we say is the equivalent of Houston in the United States of America.

“I would say that from what I have seen so far, Rivers State is back and open, safe and good for business. The oil and gas players should come and see what we have seen,” he said.

Featured

Lady Fubara Lauds Rivers Women On Peace, Development

Published

1 day ago

December 1, 2025

The Tide

Wife of the Rivers State Governor, Lady Valerie Fubara, has lauded the commitment, solidarity and pivotal role of women in promoting peace and enterprise development in Rivers State.

Lady Fubara spoke at the second edition of ‘Women Converge,’ a special programme organized by Rivers Women Unite for Sim, an NGO, at the main bowl of the Alfred Diete-Spiff Sports Complex in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

She said women in the state had tremendously impacted the state positively through their prayers, careers, contributions to the home fronts, and expressed appreciation to Rivers women, for their unwavering support to her husband, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State, while urging them to continue to pray for the state.

“Once again, let me use this occasion to thank Rivers women for their support both in prayers and solidarity with me and my family. You have been wonderful. I can’t reward all that you do, but God in heaven who sees in secret will surely reward you openly.

“Truly today, marks another milestone in our effort to shape the society for good and lending our support for the sustenance of peace and development of Rivers State in particular and Nigeria at large. Without doubt, the prayers of our women avails much in every situation.

“Let me enjoin our women to remain prayerful because God is ever ready to answer our prayers. In all that we do, we must not forget the hand of God and often seek Him for direction and help. You have always been steadfast and I urge you not to relent, and together we will move our society forward. Whatever you do, putting your trust in God will certainly succeed”.

The Rivers State first Lady described the theme of the event, “Women in An Evolving World” as apt and, deeply reflective of the very essence of actions and strategies that women adopt to navigate the new world order.

She noted that despite the complexities of managing the home front and the constraints of economic realities, women had demonstrated formidable strength and resilience to confront the odds of life.

“This Converge underscores the resilience of our women to succeed no matter the odds, especially with absolute faith in God and determination for greater accomplishments.”

“Whether in the industry, business, agriculture, public service or even in politics, they have always shown strong determination to adapt and to accomplish like others.

“Our natural state notwithstanding our focus has always been to reach for the sky like every other person and as Rivers women we have always been pacesetters.

The Keynote Speaker, Pastor Eno Jerry Eze, described women as the foundation of every society, noting that the development of every society depends on the strength of womanhood.

In their good will messages, notable Rivers women who attended the event expressed optimism over the prospects of sustainable peace and development in Rivers State, and reiterated their support for the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Some dignitaries that attended the event include former Commissioner for Environment in Rivers State, Prof Roseline Konya; foremost activist, Ann Kio Briggs; wife of the former Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr Mrs Christie Toby; President of the Port Harcourt Chambers of Commerce Industry, Mines and Agriculture, PHACCIMA, Dr Chinyere Nwoga; Pastor Ene Secondus, among others.

Highlights of the event were ministrations, cutting of cake and special prayers for Rivers State.

Featured

Fubara Frowns At Slow Pace Of Ndele–Omofo–Egmini–Agba-Ndele Road Project ….Says Contract May Be Reviewed

Published

2 weeks ago

November 14, 2025

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed dissatisfaction over the slow progress of work on the 14.5-kilometer Ndele/Omofo/Egamini/Agba-Ndele Road project located off the East–West Road in Emohua Local Government Area.

Addressing newsmen during an inspection tour of the project on Tuesday, the Governor noted that the pace and quality of work being delivered by the contracting firm, Messrs Stream Co. & Equipment Limited, fell below acceptable standards.

He was accompanied on the tour by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who briefed the Governor on the status of the project and adjoining infrastructure.

Governor Fubara, who appeared visibly unsatisfied with what he saw on the stretch of the road, said his administration would not condone mediocrity or allow public funds to be wasted on underperforming projects. He, therefore, hinted that a review of the contract may be imminent to ensure the delivery of quality infrastructure to the people.

“I can say here already that the contractor handling the road from the bridge to the East–West Road is not doing a good job. I’m not happy about it. When I get back, there will be a need to review that contract because I’m not impressed. They don’t have the capacity, and we need capacity because we must have value for whatever money we’re spending,” the Governor said.

The Governor, however, commended Setraco Nigeria Limited for the standard and pace of work on the 240-meter Agba-Ndele/Abua Bridge, which forms a major component of the project. He explained that the bridge, which his administration inherited, would significantly improve connectivity among communities in the area once completed.

Governor Fubara stated that the bridge will serve as a key link between communities in Abua/Odual, Ahoada-East, and Emohua Local Government Areas, reducing travel time and providing an alternative route to the East–West Road.

He emphasised that the project demonstrates his administration’s commitment to rural connectivity and inter-community access, which are central to his development vision for Rivers State.

“Where we are standing on is a bridge connecting Abua/Odual, Ahoada-East, and Emohua Local Government Areas. The community that is connected to this bridge is Agba-Ndele.

“Instead of running through the East–West Road to Ahoada-East and heading into Port Harcourt or out of it, this bridge provides easy access for the Abua/Odual people to cross into Emohua, Agba-Ndele, and access the East–West Road in minutes,” he explained.

Governor Fubara also expressed optimism that the bridge would be ready for use in early 2026, noting that Setraco’s expertise and performance met his administration’s expectations for quality and delivery timelines.

He highlighted that projects of such importance should be handled by firms with the capacity to meet government standards.

The Governor further remarked that once completed, the bridge would serve as a crucial economic corridor for farmers and traders, especially those involved in agriculture and cultivation of local produce across the beneficiary local government areas.

He maintained that his administration is determined to deliver people-oriented projects that promote connectivity, strengthen commerce, and enhance livelihoods across the State.

“I’m really impressed with what I’ve seen on the bridge. I’m very sure that before the end of January, it might be completely ready for us to walk through and even drive across,” Governor Fubara said.

Reaffirming his vision for Rivers people, the Governor noted that his development plan seeks to integrate all parts of the State through strategic infrastructure investments that promote mobility, social cohesion, and economic growth.

He explained that his government is executing projects across multiple local government areas to ensure balanced development and inclusivity.

Governor Fubara stated that the administration will soon address the deplorable state of the Abua/Ahoada Road, which he said, will be included in the 2026 state budget.

“Our vision is to connect the entire Rivers State together, especially communities that have challenges of access. The bridge here connects Abua/Odual and Ahoada-East to Emohua and Port Harcourt. It will ease movement, promote trade, and boost our economy because agriculture is strong on this side. Moving goods to the city won’t be a problem anymore,” he said.

Governor Fubara reiterated his administration’s commitment to delivering quality infrastructure that provides value for public funds and meets the aspirations of Rivers people.