Oil and gas producing communities in Niger Delta region under the aegis of Host Communities of Nigeria (HOSTCOM), have asked for the payment of the N89 billion gas flare penalty levy approved by the Federal Government to affected communities. The sum is said to be in the coffers Central Bank of Nigeria. The payment of the levy is part of the agreements reached with the host communities by the Federal Government, which also included, the implementation of the 13 % per cent derivation, release of the licenses for the 10 modular refineries and the implementation of the pipeline surveillance jobs for 10,000 Niger Delta youths.
President of HOSTCOM, Prince Mike Emuh, who said this accused the Federal Government of delay in implementing the 20-points agenda agreed with both Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and HOSTCOM. According to him, since the militants declared a ceasefire to pave the way for jaw-jaw, the Federal Government has not done anything tangible to assuage the yearnings of the people of the oil rich region. He stated that the region would witness enduring peace and massive development if the Federal Government implements ‘’half of what it promised’’, and urged the government to make good its pledges so as to dissuade the youths from engaging in unholy activities which were inimical to sustainable development.
Prince Emuh also disclosed that no fewer than 5,100 youths have so far been trained on pipeline surveillance and were ready to be deployed, adding that fresh batches would kick start their trainings in Akwa Ibom, Ondo and Cross River in the coming days.
He explained that HOSTCOM was working in tandem with the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs (MNDA), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and other development partners to train the youths, who would be deployed by the end of this January, apparently depending on the release of funds.
His words: ‘’It is a welcome development that the Federal Government decided to allow host communities recruit and train youths in the Niger Delta on pipeline surveillance on oil installation security to checkmate illegal refining, vandalism and other illicit activities practiced in the region by idle youths. Idle in the sense that some of them are graduates but have no jobs.’’
He said the youths who were being trained on intelligence security, combative security and fire-fighting would work in collaboration with the military Joint Task Force and other security agencies to checkmate pipeline vandalism and oil theft.
He stressed however that ex-militants would not be part of the process ‘’because the Federal Government has spent so much on them and most of the ex-militants trained have not yet been employed’’. ‘’Presently, we have registered 20 security companies to take care of those to be trained. We also registered the uniform and we are working on their service codes so that they can be deployed. They are equipped and ready to go, but we are requesting the Federal Government to release the fund for the full implementation of this programme’’, he said.
Prince Emuh disclosed that the Federal Government set up a committee involving critical stakeholders with the European Union as a Consultant charged with the onus to work out the modalities on the pipeline surveillance, adding that HOSTCOM would soon commence consultation with prominent Niger Deltan people on the issue of youth employment in the region.
‘’In the next two to three week, we will commence meeting with who is who in the Niger Delta on the issue of the employment of these youths. And before the end of January, we will post those that have been trained. We hope that this time around, the Federal Government will not hesitate to absorb them so that they would not go back to the creeks to fight oil companies and Federal Government’’, he said. He added: ‘’We are working in collaboration with the NDDC, traditional rulers, IOC, MOC to make sure that we sensitize the Niger Delta and the same time create an enabling environment for good operations’’.
