| NATIONAL Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), has petitioned the President of Senate, Senator David Mark, calling for immediate demilitarisation of the Niger Delta region and adoption of a political solution to the lingering Niger Delta crisis. In a petition copied to the Speaker of the House of the Representatives, Chairmen of both the Senate and House of Representatives committees on Petroleum, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), among other stakeholders, NUPENG lamented that the underdevelopment of the region was of grave concern to the union and a major and primary source of the continued destruction of lives and properties in the area. The petition which the union said emanated from a communique at a three-day workshop held recently in Imo State, read in part: �The Peace, Security and Development of Niger Delta Region are of immense importance to the peace, security and development of Nigeria as a nation and must be handled with utmost caution and urgency. In the light of this, the Union calls for immediate demilitarization of the Niger Delta and the adoption of political and economic solutions to resolving the crisis.” The underdevelopment of the Region is of grave concern to the Union and it is seen as the major and primary source of the continued destruction of lives and properties in the Niger Delta Region. Therefore, we demand for massive and pragmatic development of the Region which is the main producer of the Nations� wealth. The Union empathizes and shares in the pains of the Niger Delta Region oil bearing Communities over the massive destruction of aquatic life, degradation of the environment of the Region, including but not limited to the general loss of the sources of livelihood, economic activities and the health of the people of the Region. Henceforth, all Oil and Gas exploration and exploitation in the region should only be carried out after a thorough Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been carried out with the full knowledge of the host Communities.� �Multi National Oil and Gas Companies should assign appropriate sum of money for developing environmental friendly means of exploiting Oil and Gas in the Region. It is observed that concrete efforts have not been made to identify and separate the people that are making genuine demands for the development of the Region from common criminals in the Region. It was therefore resolved that the Federal Government should convene a meeting of all stakeholders for the purpose of separating criminality from the people�s demands for development. Youths and Community Leaders in the Region should make concrete efforts to prevent criminals from hijacking the genuine struggle of the people and aspirations. We frown at and condemn in its totality, the vandalisation of pipelines, attacks on oil and gas installations/facilities, hostage takings of men, women and children for financial ransom, the kidnappings and killing of indigenous and expatriate oil workers and the criminalisation of the genuine demands of Niger Delta people. The demand of the Niger Delta people for commensurate returns on the resources of the Region is appropriate and in accordance with the principles of federalism and that the current 13% derivation fund to the Region is grossly inadequate. Therefore, we call on the National Assembly to pass for approval 50% derivation fund to the Region, out of which 10% should be dedicated to the particular community where the resource is produced.� |
Sep122008