A youth leader in the Niger Delta, Clement Chisa, has called on the Federal Government to give a time frame to oil multinationals over the directive to relocate their head offices to their operational bases in the Niger Delta.
Chisa who is the co-ordinator, Niger Delta Youths for Change (NDYC) said unless such time frame was properly spelt out, authorities of the multinationals may not heed the directive.
He said, “since the Vice President gave the directive, there is no sign by the authorities to take steps towards relocating to the Niger Delta.
He accused the multinationals of being interested in what they can get from the region and not what they can give back to the region.
Reacting to the decision of the House of Representatives on the issue as an executive action, Chisa said. “It is not likely that members from Lagos State would support such relocation order since most of the oil firms are in Lagos and they benefit from the oil firms stay in their areas.
“But call a spade a spade instead of a working implement, the directive of the Vice President who represented Mr President was the best option that could engender peaceful development”.
The youth leader explained that some parts of the region, particularly Lagos have been benefitting from the state of things in the region.
“The ports in the South-South are almost dead just to increase economic activities in Lagos Ports,” he said.
Chisa, who commended the federal government’s relocation order appealed to the government to take a step further by giving time frame on the relocation order.
He appealed to the multinational oil firms to heed the order and not be deceived by the antics of some selfish Nigerians stressing that relocating their head offices to the region would engender better relationship with the people.

Chris Oluoh