By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
Worried by the growing poverty and widespread neglect of the oil producing communities of Niger Delta, a group, Akwa Ibom Oil Producing Community Development Network, AKIPCON, has called for the establishment of a special commission to manage the 13 Percent derivation funds.
It has also called on Nigerians to adopt a change of attitude toward nation building, adding that Government would not be able to bring peace and justice to bear without the co-operation of the citizens.
AKIPCON President Dr Ufot Phenson who made the call in Uyo yesterday while commenting on the country’s 60th anniversary also called on the Federal Government to reverse the 13% oil derivation policy paid to the State Government adding that the governors have mismanaged the funds.
Phenson said this remained the only way to addressing the challenges of development of the real oil bearing communities in the Niger Delta region.
The president pointed out that it was unconstitutional and irresponsible for the state government to collect the 13% derivation and not develop the oil producing communities while vilifying the Federal Government to being insensitive to the plight of the oil producing areas.
He lamented that the oil producing communities have remained in abject poverty after decades of gas flaring, oil spills and other environmental pollutions from oil companies with no compensation.
“Oil Producing Communities need more infrastructural development such as good roads network, pipe born water, electricity and other infrastructures since the people have suffered from alarming hydrocarbon pollution which has caused abject poverty, unemployment and frustration in the land.
“The people of the Oil Producing Communities in particular and other LGAs in Akwa Ibom State being the number one oil producing State in Nigeria needs functional health facilities close to them to be able to overcome environmental pollution arising from Exxon Mobil incessant oil spills, gas flaring, gas leakages and emissions from corked and uncorked oil wells of SPDC operating in Akwa Ibom State for decades now.” Phenson said.
He appealed to both the Federal and Akwa Ibom State Governments to urge oil companies operating in the State to pay compensation to the people for the incessant oil spills, gas flaring and emissions which have impacted the Atlantic Ocean and adjoining waters which provide means of livelihood to peasant fishermen saying this would cushion the effects of oil pollution and minimize crisis in the region.
The president noted that AKIPCON was in strong support of the agitation made to the Federal Government by Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSCON) for the payment of oil derivation to Oil Producing Communities.
He lamented that corruption remained on the increase in the country despite the establishment of various anti corruption agencies by the Federal Government.
According to him, the operators of those institutions alone would be unable to promote an incorruptible nation without the support of other Nigerians adding that Nigeria could only succeed as a nation if all hands could be on deck to fight the monster.
