FG officials among oil thieves – Ann-Kio Briggs

A renowned voice in issues affecting the Niger Delta region and Nigeria,  Ann-Kio Briggs, has criticized the Federal Government’s fight against oil theft, alleging that the majority of the culprits are in government.

According to Briggs, The Nigerian National  Petroleum  Company (NNPC) has questions to answer about oil theft.

The Niger Delta activist also stated that the security agencies occupying the Niger Delta since 1999 have questions to answer on the volume of oil being stolen daily.

Briggs who spoke with newsmen in Port Harcourt, also criticized President  Bola Tinubu’s led administration for abruptly introducing policies and scrapping ministries without seeking the views of the people concerned.

She regretted that most of the policies and initiatives by the current government are drastically affecting the common masses.

She said, “For a long time, the Niger Delta people have been neglected, pushed aside and disrespected. Dissolving the Niger Delta Ministry is one more disrespect and disregard. Is like saying, what can you do about it, we have made our decision. You can see the reaction that trailed the dissolution of that ministry.

“This is not how to change policies. What is about the Ministry of Livestock that they are talking about? Ok, can we also have the Ministry of Fish and Periwinkle to balance the equation?

“Going back to regionalism is not a decision the president alone can make. It has to go to the Assembly, more like a referendum. That is not how changes come about. I have never seen it anywhere in the world where somebody will just wake up and say, we had a national anthem in the 1960s, I want to change the present anthem to the old one.

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“I have never seen that kind of a thing. Those are the things that are of concern to me. Are we going to wake up one day and hear that they have removed the 13% derivation?”

Briggs claimed that restructuring is ongoing but the government has yet to discuss it with the people.

“We have been shouting for restructuring and changes. If you are going to effect those changes, you have to discuss it with the people,” she added.

The activist, however, urged the government not to push the  people so hard warning that when “you push people to the wall, they will always push back with what they have.”