Nigerian Human Rights Commission

Worried by the unabating gas flaring in the Niger Delta region, Kokodiagbene community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, has urged the Federal Government to go tough with Multinational Oil Companies for refusing to end the menace.

Chairman of the community, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, in a statement in Warri at the weekend, claimed that the multinational oil companies appeared not ready to end gas flaring in Niger Delta Region.

He implored the Federal Government to compel the oil companies to adhere strictly to environmental best practices to save the environment, stoppage of gas flaring and bring defaulters to book.

Mulade, who is also the National Coordinator, Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), wondered why none of the oil companies had been brought to book over the menace.

“It is amazing that justice is far from environmental offenders in Nigeria. President Muhammadu Buhari should take responsibility by addressing this ugly menace in Nigeria.

“It is unfortunate that multinational oil companies, which obey and adhere strictly to environmental best practices internationally in their countries and other parts of the globe, refuse to end gas flaring in the Niger Delta Region.

“But the Federal Government should stop romancing with Multinational Oil Companies and ensure that they do the needful now as far as ending gas flaring in the region is concerned,” he reasoned.

Comrade Mulade also challenged the National Assembly to compel multinational oil  companies to end gas flaring now in the region.

According to him, “the failure of multinational oil companies to adhere strictly to environmental best practices in the Niger Delta region, coupled with unholy activities of pipe vandals and those stealing our oil, are affecting the Niger Delta Region environment. They are destroying the ecosystem.

“Today, as a result of air pollution emanating from oil and gas, our roofs are being destroyed by gas flaring.  Life expectancy in the region is very short now because of unabated release of emission to the air.