Joseph Ambakederimo, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Community Development Committees, (CDC) in the oil-producing communities of the Niger Delta, has described oil theft and pipeline vandalization as an existential threat to people in the region.
Ambakederimo made the assertion when he led some members of the CDC Board of Trustees on a courtesy visit to the Director General of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Salihu Dembos.
Addressing the DG and members of NTA management, Ambakederimo said, “I believe this invitation at such short notice is because of your understanding of the enormity and the existential threat that oil theft and the attendant environmental pollution that the activities of oil pipeline vandals and operators of illegal refinery in the Niger Delta has wrought on our communities.”
The CDC chairman blamed governments in the region for not properly utilising funds meant for the development of their people.
“The oil-producing states have also failed to do anything tangible to elevate the standard of living in their communities with the 13% derivation they receive.
“While we apportion blame to the communities we must take cognisance of international criminal activities that take place in the high seas and also within the crude oil loading terminals.”
Joseph Ambakederimo told the DG of NTA that his group was working on a collaboration with the National Assembly, NEITI, the international oil conglomerates, and “we seek the collaboration and support of the Nigerian Television Authority in advocacy and sensitizing oil producing communities.”
He urged Pres. Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on pipeline vandalization.
“May we as a recommendation call on Pres Ahmed Tinubu to declare an emergency on the oil theft situation. The President must give marching orders to the Heads of all the security agencies and Heads of the Armed forces to take charge of their areas of operation with an attendant consequence of punishment or removal from office if reports of pipeline breaches or illegal refinery operations continue or occur within areas under their command.”
Responding, the Director General of NTA said, “I want to thank you most sincerely for coming and seeking to collaborate with us on this noble cause of your organisation towards putting a stop to oil theft in the Niger Delta.
“You have made the right decision because in NTA we believe that oil theft is a serious economic sabotage and perpetrators as well as their collaborators must be named, shamed and treated as such. This is because the 16.25 Trillion Naira estimated to have been lost to oil theft in the last 11 years if properly applied would have significantly transformed not only the Niger Delta region but the entire country.
“So for us any efforts aimed at finding lasting solutions to the menace which is also a national security threat is of concern to us.”
The DG assured the CDC of NTA’s willingness to collaborate with the advocacy group. “Be rest assured that NTA will support you 100 percent in your planned sensitisation campaign to create awareness in the oil and gas producing communities of the Niger Delta.”
Salihu Dembos commended the CDC for their work.
“Finally I am happy to note that your organisation is also making concerted efforts towards finding lasting solutions to the vandalisation of oil and gas installations in the region,” he said.
“This is critical because the unending menace of pipeline vandalism is not only polluting the environment with resultant health hazards but also leading to death and significant economic loss to the community and the country at large.
“If these twin problems of oil theft and pipeline vandalism can be effectively addressed once and for all, the promise that the Nigerian nation holds will surely be realised for the good of all and sustainable future of the economy.”
