‘Governors Cannot Continue To Ignore Oil Producing Areas’
CONCERNED that the 13 per cent derivation has not been helpful in distributing the benefits oil exploration to bearing communities, Niger Delta governors have been urged to set up an intervention agency.
Chairman of Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers and Amanyanabo of Twon Brass, King Alfred Diete-spiff, who made the recommendation, said based on the significant revenue generated by the country from crude oil exploration, it was morally pertinent that oil producing communities benefit from natural resources in their domains through massive infrastructural and human capacity development.
Diete-spiff, the first military governor of Old Rivers State, told The Guardian that based on the existential realities in the oil producing communities, it was clear that they have been neglected by the state governments, which receive the 13 per cent derivation funds on their behalf, saying: “Based on the level of development in oil producing communities, it is clear that they need more attention. The 13 per cent should be given to intervention commissions to go to the oil producing areas to develop those areas.”
He observed that oil producing states, such as Imo, Delta and Ondo, have set up special intervention commissions to address infrastructural deficit in the oil producing communities and tasked others who are yet to do same to emulate them or lose their right to the 13 per cent derivation funds.
“Other states should set up intervention commission. If they do not, they will lose the right to the 13 per cent, I am afraid. You are collecting money under false pretext, because the area which is generating the money, you don’t give it that special treatment,” he said.
Diete-spiff warned that ignoring the plight of the oil producing communities, who in most cases lack access to basic social amenities, such as hospitals, clean drinking water, well-maintained road networks and employment opportunity, would continue to fuel unrest, noting: “It is like a tinder box waiting to explode and we, the traditional rulers, will not allow our kingdoms to explode. God will not forgive us for groping around when we are not blind.”