The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has decried the incessant gas flaring and lackadaisical practices of International Oil Companies (IOCs) in the oil rich Niger Delta region.
IYC position is coming on the heels of the resolve by the House of Representatives to recover the sum of over $9 billion gas flaring fines imposed by the federal government on erring local and foreign oil and gas companies.
The President of the Council, Dr. Alaye Theophilus identified gas flaring as one of the main environmental, economic, health challenges faced by the people of the Niger Delta region over the years.
He assured that he would promote, defend and demand justice for the people while at the helm of IYC.
He noted: “We are in an era where policies of the government are anti-Ijaw and undermines our collective contribution to national sustainable development.
“As president of the council, I will agitate for resource control beyond oil and gas. We have been undermined for too long.
“It is abysmal when our rich water bodies are abandoned, and we see ship berths in Lagos, when we have the best seaport in West Africa. What we keep hearing is that our environment is not safe enough, this must stop under my watch as president of council as we demand activation of our seaport.
“I must state it clearly that we will no longer condone incessant gas flaring and lackadaisical practices of the IOCs that has cost us a lot as a people. We shall strive to maintain the stability in council and the Ijaw nation under my leadership.”
The Ijaw youth leader urged the government to explore areas where the region has competitive advantage in order to ameliorate the uncontrollable suffering of the people.
“In my government, political players in the Niger Delta region must up their game in the discharge of their political duties to project the concerns of the region as we shall be asking questions of stewardship and contributions to the development of the region,” Theophilus stated.
The immediate past President IYC, Deacon Peter Igbifa, urged Theophilus to be steadfast and avoid unnecessary distraction in his commitment to set the Council on the right path.
