The Ogoni Youth Federation, OYF, has applauded the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, for showing commitment to reform the Petroleum Industry by demanding for the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law in mid-2020.
“This move is commendable and a show of complete good faith as the future of the Petroleum Industry and, indeed, the country depends on it”, Comrade Yamaabana Legborsi, President-General of OYF said in a statement.
“We believe in the PIB bill because it will help in solving the developmental issues in the Niger Delta and ensure lasting peace.
“The passage of the bill would also help to sanitize the petroleum industry and enhance the development of the oil-bearing communities.
“In the short time that Chief Timipre Sylva came on board as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, he has not only performed creditable, but he has also raised the bar of performance to a level that is difficult to beat”.
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While commending the Minister for resolving the two-year protracted disputes between SPDC and host communities of OML 25 facilities in Kula Kingdom of Asari-Toru Local Government of Rivers State amicably, the group urged him to use his good office to address the decades of stalemate between the Ogoni people and the Federal Government of Nigeria over social, economic and environmental injustice “which till date has generated a lot of international concerns, leading to the shut-in of oil and gas operations in Ogoniland for upwards of 26 years since the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) was declared persona non grata in 1993”.
“The resolution of this debacle (OML 11 Ogoni Fields issues) is crucial as it would pave way for a smooth re-entry into Ogoniland for the purpose of resumption of oil and gas production and avail the youth and other critical stakeholders of Ogoni, the opportunity to benefit from their God-given treasures and resources.
“We urge the Minister to resolve this protracted fiasco which has defied solution for more than 26 years, as it will position him on the global map as an astute administrator and score his administration as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources very high”
