NGO Expresses Shock Over Sylva’s Comments

A Civil Rights Organisation under the auspices of Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC) has expressed shock and disappointment over comments made by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva that his visit to Nembe was because President Muhamadu Buhari sent him to ascertain the true position of the oil spill from Aiteo Ltd facility devastated since November 1, 2021.
It expressed its dissatisfaction in a statement signed by the President of the group, Comrade Fyneface Dumnamene and made available to The Tide yesterday.
“We are not surprised because he had in the past demonstrated that nothing about the Niger Delta region concerns him as he had always been saying that to oil bearing communities.
“No wonder he accepted and could not say nor do anything about the 2.5 per cent apportioned to host Communities in the Niger Delta region.
“To people like him in leadership position, the 2.5 per cent Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) was best for his own people, the Niger Delta region, before it was increased to 3 per cent in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
The statement added that the 3 per cent Petroleum Bill Act (PIA) favours the people of Nembe communities, hence the reason why they have failed to talk against the injustice meted out to the people of the region.
“If he had visited earlier in a saner claim, what we expect from the minister of Petroleum is for him to resign for not responding few hours after the oil spillage, but waited for over three weeks before going to see the impact of the oil spill on the people.”

By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana