*Decry lack
of FG’s presence in south-east, N’Delta
Governors of
the South-East and South-South states and other stakeholders have urged the
Federal Government to prevail on multinational oil and gas corporations to
relocate
their corporate headquarters to their areas of core operations in the
two regions.
The
governors lamented that despite providing the necessary logistic support to the
security agencies, perceptions of insecurity are on the rise, preventing inflow
of direct foreign and local investment into the regions.
These were
contained in a statement endorsed by the Chairman of the South-East and
South-South Governors’ Forum and Akwa Ibom State governor, Udom Emmanuel, at
the end of its meeting at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The leaders
said the emerging trend where approvals for investments in the oil and gas
industry are granted for siting in locations outside where the resources are
domiciled was unacceptable.
In
attendance at the meeting were Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers State), Ifeanyi
Okowa (Delta), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Rochas Okorocha
(Imo) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia). The deputy governors who represented their
governors were Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd) of Bayelsa, Dr. Nkem
Okeke (Anambra), Philip Shaibu (Edo) and Prof. Ivara Esu (Cross River).
Vice
President Yemi Osinbajo had earlier this year directed all multinationals
operating outside the oil producing states to relocate their corporate
headquarters there. But this directive is yet to be heeded.
The
Secretary of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDF) and former President, Movement for
the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Ledum Mitee, said the demand for the
oil companies to relocate to the two regions was a reflection of the mood in
these areas.
Mitee said
PANDF had made a similar demand on the Federal Government which later issued a
directive to the companies to relocate to the oil producing states. He
challenged the Federal Government to demonstrate clearly that it has the will
to effect its directives.
The
President, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Eric Omare, said it was gratifying that
the governors of the regions added their voice to the clamour.“The emphasis is
the corporate headquarters and not operational headquarters. We want the
corporate headquarters where the directors and other executive officers of
these companies work from. This will also encourage the indigenous companies to
relocate to these regions,” he said.
According to
Omare, the IYC and other critical stakeholders have played a significant role
in ensuring that calm is restored to the Niger Delta, hence, they expected
Osinbajo to reciprocate by ensuring the enforcement of an earlier directive to
multinational oil companies to relocate to the Niger Delta.
On the issue
of security, the governors described the Federal Government’s presence in the
regions as very minimal and only noticeable in the presence of policemen. They
expressed the determination to overcome this through regional efforts, share
resources, intelligence and denying sanctuaries to criminal elements in their
different territories. The forum urged security agencies to set up joint border
patrol teams and develop more proactive strategies in combating crimes.
Other issues
discussed include the deplorable state of federal roads in the two regions. The
governors asked the Federal Government to come up with a clear policy on
concession of its roads and to hasten the process in order to ameliorate the
sufferings of the people of the regions.
Governor
Emmanuel said it was regrettable that none of the airports and seaports located
in the two regions is reasonably functional. He said the governors also noticed
that the two regions are not linked by any rail services.
The forum
acknowledged the urgent need to establish and link cities in the two regions
with railways and super highways and provide viable and affordable flight
services between their cities, as well as ensure that cargoes are brought into
the country through seaports, jetties and ferry services in the regions as a
veritable means of stimulating economic growth and social progress.
Governor
Emmanuel said the two regions would soon make their position known on the
ongoing constitutional review. The governors condemned hate speech in national
discourse, whether in individual communication or utterances of political
actors or parties.
At the
closed-door meeting that lasted several hours, the governors said they were
determined to reinforce resolutions taken at the inaugural meeting of the forum
at Enugu, and take practical steps to identify and define the different strands
of cooperation and integration as well as establishing the institutional
framework to advance and consolidate the drive towards achieving the noble
objectives.
They
committed themselves to working together politically, align and re-align as a
people that share common heritage, culture and affinity.The forum is expected
to reconvene in Owerri, Imo State on October 8, 2017.
Guardian*
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