By Brave Dickson
The Niger Delta Activists Forum has intensified efforts to stop the federal government from bidding out an oil field in the Niger Delta Region known as Marginal Field Round.
The group said until a comprehensive environmental impact assessment is carried out to ascertain the safety of the host committee, the oil field should not the bidden out.
This was contained in a statement obtained by our correspondent and signed by the group’s National President/Leader, Comrade Success Jack; the National Director of Community Health and Environment, Comrade Kennedy Tabuko and the Chairman Niger Delta Activists Forum FCT Chapter, Comrade Hezekiah Silas Olu.
The statement read in part: “That for the past ten years or thereabout, there has been massive earth tremors (occasionally) within and around many host communities.
“This we believe are the initial signs of an earthquake which threatens extinction of our lands and people.
“Meaning that Nigeria may wake up one day to find, that these communities are no more, having been swallowed up by an earthquake.
“It is very concerning and worrisome because the principal duty of any government as provided in our constitution is the protection of lives and properties.
“Owing to the above, we no longer feel safe nor protected by the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who instead of ordering an immediate Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and detailed probe to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of these tremors is continuing the bid process for more exploitation of oil and gas, thereby exposing us to further dangers.
OUR DEMANDS
“1. The current ongoing Marginal Field Bid Round-2020 should be temporarily put on hold, to fully accommodate and integrate growing resentment and frustration over the inappropriateness of the non inclusive and non consultative nature of this process.
“2. The honourable Minister and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources should immediately initiate fresh Environmental Impact Assessment within and around host communities, with the aim of ascertaining the safety or otherwise of continued oil exploitation activities within these areas.
“3. The honorable minister through the approval of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should institute a twenty per cent concessionary quota for host communities participation, upholding same concessions in the bid fees and costs.”
