Host Communities of Nigerian Oil and Gas (HOSTCON), have demanded N165 billion from the Federal Government, as compensation for gas flaring.
National Public Relations Officer of HOSTCON, Dr Mike Emuh, made the demand in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Warri, Delta State.
NAN reports that oil companies operating in the country were mandated to pay agreed fees on gas flaring to the Federal Government and were given a December 31, 2008 deadline to stop the flare or face more sanctions.
Environmentalists had argued that gas flare had contributed to global warming, degradation of marine and farming activities in the Niger Delta, as well as health danger to the communities.
Emuh, who is also the Delta State Coordinator of HOSTCON, said the money was urgently needed for development of the oil producing communities.
He listed the dearth of human and capital development, as well as unemployment as some of the problems of the oil rich region.
According to him, our people are suffering, our youths are not employed, our women are not empowered, no infrastructure, the old infrastructure we have are dilapidated, a situation, which made HOSTCON to come up as a body to pursue the release of the N165 billion owed them by the central government.
He said the body was also mandated to ensure proper utilisation of the 50 per cent of the 13 per cent derivation fund given to oil states, adding that release of the money would reduce militancy and crime in the region.
“If the Federal Government releases the N165 billion and the budgeted N10 billion for poverty alleviation, there will be an enduring peace, progress, harmony and development in the region,†he said.
Jan52009