Prevail on IOCs to develop Niger Delta, IYC tells Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has been called upon to prevail on international oil and gas companies in the Niger Delta to commit funds for the accelerated human and physical development of the region.

The group made the call against the backdrop of the Federal Government’s directive, compelling multinational oil companies to send funds to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)in the North-East.

Government had reportedly directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), National Petroleum Investment Management Service (NPIMS) and other operators in the petroleum industry to contribute at least $100m  annually to the IDP’s intervention fund for the people of the North-East.

The spokesman, IYC, Mr Daniel Dasimake, urged Buhari to extend the same gesture to the Niger Delta people.

Dasimaka, in a statement on Saturday, said, while Ijaw youths were not opposed to the development of any region, it was only fair and just that the Federal Government directed the oil companies to contribute more to the development of the Niger Delta.

According to him, the Niger Delta is most negatively impacted by the activities of international oil companies.

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He said: “Although the North-East is a victim of its own destruction, Ijaws have nothing against any plans to help IDPs and to develop the region.

“However, we find it quite traumatic that the government and its agencies that have never considered for over 60 years, to instruct the oil companies ‘devastating’ our once very fertile lands and rivers, thereby dislocating our local economies, are today instructing IOCs to contribute to the development of the North-East, which was destroyed by its own home grown terrorism.

“But at the same time, the Federal Government has remained mute about the development of the Niger Delta where the oil companies get the resources that are being directed to be siphoned to the North-East. It is a known historical truth that the Niger Delta has suffered far worse than the IDPs in the North East.

“We are therefore calling on President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachukwu, Minister of Transportation, Mr Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and the heads of all relevant agencies overseeing the oil and gas, as well as maritime industry in Nigeria to instruct all operators in these sectors to contribute to the development of the Niger Delta,” he stated.