The House of Representatives on Tuesday mandated the Federal Ministries of Petroleum Resources and Environment to urgently develop and implement modalities to clear off soot currently experienced in Rivers State and other parts of the Niger Delta Region.
It also mandated the House Committees on Police Affairs, Navy, Army, Defense and Interior to investigate the alleged involvement of security agencies in the illegal oil refining activities in the Niger Delta Region of the Country.
These followed a motion of urgent public importance on “the need to curb the activities of illegal crude oil refineries in the Niger Delta Region, to end the soot currently experienced in the Region” brought by Hon. Unyime Idem(PDP, Akwa Ibom).
In his presentation of the motion,the lawmaker noted that, in section 44 (3) and item 39 Schedule II of the Exclusive Legislative List of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) said the control and management of natural resources and hydrocarbon operations on the Federal Government are for the common good and benefit of the citizens.
He expressed worries that the Niger Delta region has over the years been plagued by the activities of illegal oil refiners at the detriment of the lives of residents and the economy of the country.
He said these activities “have compounded the age-long problem of environmental pollution and degradation caused by the seismic and exploration activities of the multinational oil companies operating in Niger Delta, contributing to the dramatic changes in the weather pattern being experienced in this region. These illegal activities have sabotaged economic activities of residents of the area, caused severe health hazards on citizens, robbed the country of critical revenue, and aggravated the problem of pollution in the region” .
He expressed that the House is disappointed that some security agencies and some influential individuals have been alleged of complicity in the activities of these illegal refineries in the Niger Delta region
The House expressed fear that “if these trend continues unabated, the Niger Delta Region will be at health risk and economic activities will be crumbled.”
Debating the motion, Hon. Luke Onofiok, Lawmaker representing Etinan/Nsit Ibom/ Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom state amended that the mid stream and downstream regulatory authorities be asked to grant licenses for the establishment of modular refineries and support their establishment.
He added that the existing licenses for modular refineries should be reviewed to enable either cancellation or renewal or additional licenses.
The motion after amendments by members of the House was agreed on and passed by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, just as the
House mandated relevant Committees on Host Communities and Downstream to ensure compliance and report back in six weeks.
