Senator David Dafinone, Alhaji Asari Dokubo and other leaders have called for the establishment of a Niger Delta Reconstruction and Development Bank, to act as custodian of funds accruing to the communities from royalties.
They also called for greater involvement of all stakeholders through the establishment of a Development Board.
In a communique issued at the end of the first Niger Delta Peace Conference in Abuja, the leaders said the Board should be made up of agencies such as Manpower Evaluation Assessment and Training, Agricultural Development Board, Housing, Education, Health, Employment, Water supply, Power and Energy, Infrastructure (roads, rail, sea, and air) and Secunty.
The leaders, who met on the initiative of the Union of Niger Delta (UND), Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF) and Niger Delta Peoples Salvation Front (NDPSF) also demanded that the rights and privileges which the Minerals and Mining Act of 1999 confers on states, local government, communities and land owners should be extended to the case of Petroleum Resources.
In particular, they advised that royalties derived from oil and gas production should properly accrue to the host communities and land owners, in line with international practices. They urged the Federal Government to put in place appropriate machinery for ensuring equity participation of host communities and impact areas in oil and gas ventures located within their domain. On armed struggle that has led to further break down of law and order in the region, the leaders said a continued armed struggle could lead to anarchy, which does not present an option in the pursuit of peace and justice in the region. They called for amendment of the Petroleum Act 1969, by including a provision that will involve states and local governments and communities in whose territory the resources are situated at the negotiation stage, before the grant of any licence.
Nov122007