By Sam Akanimo
Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, an engineer, has warned against attempts to frustrate the smooth divestment of International Oil Companies (IOCs) assets in Nigeria.Komolafe says this might scare away investors and negatively impact the country’s overall well-being.
Komolafe gave the warning in Abuja at a meeting between the Commission and a coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) led by Isaac Botti.The CSOs are calling on the commission to halt to the on-going divestment process because of concerns about environmental and host community issues.The coalition claimed that the divestment raises critical questions about responsibility for the past and ongoing environmental damages caused by activities of the IOCs.
It expressed fears that with assets changing hands, matters are bound to arise regarding the commitment of the new assets’ owners to address lingering issues of pollution and investment in necessary clean-off.Responding to the concerns, Komolafe disclosed that the NUPRC is currently overseeing four divestment transactions by IOCs and there was no cause for such concerns because seven regulations have already been issued to address critical issues regarding such divestments, particularly those relating to host communities.
Komolafe explained that NUPRC’s responsibility as a regulator is to ensure that every activity in the upstream oil and gas sector is carried out in the country in line with the provisions of the law and in tandem with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (2021).
He advised civil society organisations to continue to support the Commission in achieving its statutory mandate.
But, despite the plea, stakeholders in the Niger Delta area are still demanding that oil companies be compelled to address adverse health impact of oil exploration in Niger Delta.
Director of Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, a civic group, Emem Okon, said in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, that that is the way to go.She spoke during a public presentation of the research report on the impact of oil extraction on women’s health in Otuabagi community in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state that was commissioned by the organisation.
Otuabagi community that is within Oloibiri District was the first place crude oil was discovered in commercial quantity in Nigeria in 1956.Okon said the report highlighted the adverse consequences of oil extraction which has a profound negative impact on health and livelihood of women in Otuabagi community.
She lamented that the research revealed that the participants had over a thousand times hydrocarbons in their blood sample more than World Health Organisation (WHO), threshold and therefore demanded for compensation from oil companies and government.”There is therefore a need to demand compensation, restoration of polluted sites, health, actions to keep us alive, to resist death, resist poverty and justice.”
She explained that the findings and data would serve as a tool for policy makers , community leaders and all those who strive for a more equitable and sustainable future “will serve as a more powerful too for policy makers, community leaders and all those who strive for a more equitable and sustainable future”.
A public health physician and head of the research team, Dr.Bieye Briggs, said from the findings of the report, it was revealed that there was very high and unacceptable level of exposure of the people to hydrocarbons in the community.
Briggs advocated for the federal government to carry out health audit in Otuabagi community and other oil producing areas in the Niger Delta region” with a view to instituting intervention program to halt and reverse the impact of oil exploration”.
Traditional ruler of Otuabagi community, Chief Daniel Amangi, in his speech commended Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre for undertaking the project and asked the federal government to focus their attention on the community and develop it.Amangi called for immediate implementation of the recommendations of the research findings for the overall benefit of the people.
An Environmental rights crusader, Alagoa Morris, lamented that life expectancy is lower in the Niger Delta region than in other parts of the country due to the hazards caused by oil exploration .He called for compensation to be paid to host communities to ameliorate the health impact of oil extraction in the region.The ceremony also featured a drama presentation by Otuabagi women and panel discussion on the findings of the report.
