FG to sanction IOCs that fail in statutory obligation to host communities

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, has hinted on moves by the Federal Government to give legal teeth to deal with International Oil Companies (IOCs) that fail in their statutory obligations to oil-producing communities.

The Minister gave the hint), yesterday, during an interactive session with Course 15 Executive Intelligence participants at the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) in Abuja.

He said: “A law that will compel IOCs engaged in oil exploration and exploitation in the Niger Delta region has already passed second reading in the House of Representatives. It is expected that when the bill is passed into law, there would be sanctions and punishment for any defaulter.”

Akpabio noted that environmental pollution resulting from the activities of oil and gas exploration in the region is real, and commended the institute and participants for opting for this year’s theme, “Global Climate Challenge Practice & Prospects for Economic Development and Conflict Resolution in Africa”.

He explained that such study would help participants to identify practices responsible for the situations and proffer solutions that would promote peaceful co-existence.

According to the former governor, the theme is a clear example of the emerging situations not just in the Niger Delta area but also in the Lake Chad region bordering Nigeria, Cameroun and Niger Republic that has been experiencing serious climate change recently.

Earlier, Deputy Commandant and Director Studies, National Institute for Security Studies, Mr. Didacus Egor Egbeji, commended the minister for sustaining peace and stability in the versatile region with infrastructural development cutting across the nine States of the Niger Delta region.

He stated that this year’s theme tallied with the ministry’s mandate and was relevant to the Niger Delta region.