The Oil and Solid Mineral Producing Area Landlords Association of Nigeria (OMPALAN) has decried the misappropriation of 13% oil derivation fund at the expense of vulnerable local communities.
Chairman, BOT, OMPALAN, Bishop Udo Azogu made the observation at the group’s National Congress in Abuja.
He said that communities that bear the brunt of oil exploitation are left to face acute environmental degradation.
He said: “We call on President Buhari to invoke his executive powers to halt open looting and diversion of oil mitigation programs by the political class. Failure to do so, Government should scrap the mitigation schemes that have only helped to sustain the tiny political class and gravely impoverished impacted communities.
According to him, “The association will build effective mechanisms to bring reprieve to aggrieved individuals and communities who are victims of criminal neglect by development agencies exploiting the Country’s huge natural resources.
OMAPALAN condemned violence and killings in especially the north, and called on the government to carry out thorough investigation on the senseless bloodletting in solid mineral producing communities.
“We condemn in unequivocal language the recent abduction and killing of a monarch in Kaduna State by criminal elements and attendant reprisal attacks.
He said that OMPALAN has produced a bottom-up blueprint called Mining Security and Monitoring Agency of Nigeria (MISMAN) to build synergy with the Federal government to facilitate access to democratic dividends by impacted communities and enthrone rule of law and halt illegal oil bunkering and vandalization of oil installations and equipment.
A former Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Prof. John Akanya in his presentation called for sustained growth in the solid mineral sector to boost the economy.
He said that over-dependence on crude oil has brought about adverse effect on the nation’s economy, while contributing to the unemployment crisis.
He said the unemployment crisis has led to worsening security situation in some parts of the country.
The congress was attended by delegates from oil and solid minerals producing areas.
