Aringarosa: Friday, March 8, 2013
N'Delta coalition wants imbalance in oil block allocation tackled

By Seye Olumide and Nkechi Onyedika, Uyo


Akpabio opposes abrogation of onshore offshore dichotomy

THE Prof. Pat Utomi-led coalition of ethnic and political pressure groups in the Niger Delta under the aegis of the United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy (UNDEDSS), has urged the Federal Government to scrap ownership of all oil blocks in Nigeria.

The demand is coming on the heels of revelation in the National Assembly by Senator Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom North East) that 83 per cent of oil blocks in Nigeria were owned either directly by individuals from the North or companies owned by them.

In a statement yesterday, the Secretary General of the coalition, Mr. Tony Uranta said although the revelation was not news "what was depressing was Northern Senators' opposition to a bill that would ensure justice and equity to the Niger Delta people who have suffered and are still suffering so much degradation and other health related issues from exploration and exploitation of oil in the region for too long."

The coalition said it is imperative of the government to scrap ownership of all oil blocs and begin at zero point to re-allocate them in the spirit of fairness and equity.

Said he, "Since the nation is reluctant to give either total control or make sure the Niger Delta gets what it deserves, oil blocs should now be allocated based on federal character principle."

He added that the decision of UNDEDSS was also based on the heels of the division in the Senate over the proposed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which the executive said was aimed at reforming the oil sector.

According to him, "the division over the passage of the bill was caused by a clause for additional 10 per cent oil producing community fund, which some senators wanted to be expunged.

Uranta described the inability of the National Assembly to pass the PIB since the Sixth Assembly when it was first introduced as unfair to the Niger Delta Region.

"Whilst we talk of derivative principle of 13 per cent to the Niger Delta, we must remember that over 60 per cent of the federal allocation to councils in Nigeria go to the North.

"A lot of monies are being paid to the northern states based on the local government councils.

"While Bayelsa, for instance, gets an allocation indirectly derived from the oil it produces for eight councils, Kano gets allocation for up to 44 councils.

"These are the injustice in the system that should touch the heart of any right thinking person in this nation," he said.

He added that the 13 per cent derivative fund already in practice was not enough to take care of the havoc caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta Region.

He also pointed to the fact that the passage of the PIB "would ensure that the Niger Delta gets a little more for its sufferings, it was for the benefit of all Nigerians and not just oil host community alone. All regions in Nigeria have something to gain from the bill when passed."

Meanwhile, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio has kicked against the clamour for abrogation of onshore offshore oil dichotomy, describing it as retrogressive and being done in bad faith.

Speaking when the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, led the National Good Governance Tour team on a courtesy visit to him yesterday in Uyo, Akpabio noted that the onshore offshore oil dichotomy was a compromise position for water depth of 200 metres, adding that thousands of oil well in the Niger Delta are not covered by derivation.

He observed that the law only allows 13 per cent derivation for only 200mts, adding that anything above 200 meters does not get any derivation so some of the oil well in the Niger Delta.

The governor stated that some critics complain about the demand for more allocation to oil producing states because they feel that 13 per cent derivation is not well utilised, but our peculiar situation and devastation of our environment make it necessary for our demand to be considered.

He said: "Some individuals in Nigeria makes more than N4 billion per month from their oil block, the wealth in the hands of some individuals in Nigeria is more than the wealth of between five-10 states joined together, well it is their luck because they got it using their military positions. Things like this clearly shows that if those resources were not taken out of the country but used to build factories and create employment, opportunities, some of the poverty in the northern and southern part of the country will not occur."

Akpabio, who blamed the high rate of poverty in the country on over-dependence on oil, noted that every state of the federation has one mineral deposit or the other hence the need to explore alternative sources of revenue for the country.

According to him, "we have high rate of poverty in the country because we depend so much on oil. Let us stop this dependence on oil; let's stop these manipulative tendencies to bring certain sections of the society down. There is no single person from the South South that owns oil block even though we produce the oil.

"The exploration of oil has huge negative impact on the eco system. If the soil wants to balance itself, the first area to be affected is the Niger Delta and other sections of Nigeria will move on. We should try to stop dwelling on things that divides the country and focus on things that unites the country".


http://odili.net/news/source/2013/mar/8/1.html

Aringarosa: Just hoping Gej can grow some balls to effect the necessary changes in the allocation of oil blocks. This injustice has to stop. Enough is a enough.

asha 80: for him to make any change you have to vote him back as the current oil bloc licences expires by 2016.

asha 80: for him to make any change you have to vote him back as the current oil bloc licences expires by 2016.

asha 80: for him to make any change you have to vote him back as the current oil bloc licences expires by 2016.

PointB: The south is gradually waking up.

Feed me more:

Whether or not he goes for second term, the injustice has to be address once and for all.

Feed me more:

Whether or not he goes for second term, the injustice has to be address once and for all.

lacasa: Hahaha!!!

Some peoplee jux like to release pointless statements anϑ the lazy Nigerian press will adopt it


GEJ will reverse kini


Y do u think he can't or couldn't bring the infamous "Subsidy cabal" to book??


Withdraw licenses on oil blocks from whoever? i laugh, even GEJ knows where his powers stop!

They are the untouchables of the PDP! & they accentedd to make even d President who he is today.


The only time such can & will ever happen in Nigeria is if PDP as a whole is removed from power.


But, before then, any body or group making such demands, is only wasting his time.

Remove the PDP and then bring in the APC abi!?

I dey laugh...

If you don't like Fresh Air, then suffocate yourself to death..

2015 is the year of more Fresh Air.. Learn to breath!

Unknown Member:

Remove the PDP and then bring in the APC abi!?

I dey laugh...

If you don't like Fresh Air, then suffocate yourself to death..

2015 is the year of more Fresh Air.. Learn to breath!

Aringarosa: Just hoping Gej can grow some balls to effect the necessary changes in the allocation of oil blocks. This injustice has to stop. Enough is a enough.