Stabilising the Niger delta region remains key priority for President Buhari – Kachikwu
By Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum on Monday announced that stabilising the Niger delta remains a key priority to the Buhari’s administration.
Kachikwu at the ongoing sustainability in the extractive industries conference in Abuja listed seven key priority areas that the government is working focusing on in the region.which is geared towards ensuring longlasting stability in the Niger Delta region.
Kachkwu listed the projects to include: deploying the Niger delta development program; pursuing regular engagement in the Niger delta; implementing; modular refinery initiative, implementing community based pipeline framework and elevating Nigeria gas flare commercialisation program.
Kachikwu represented by Isa Baba, director for oil services, federal ministry of petroleum resources said ,”Conflict in some instances can be attributed to scarcity of developmental project in the areas adding that the Niger delta development is target at ensuring the realisation of such projects.”
He pointed out that projects targeted at improving the standard of living in this areas will be monitored thus fostering completion, stressing that unemployment and under-development are the issues causing conflict as people are more likely to be restless.
Speaking further on commercialisation of flared gas in the country, Kachikwu said: “The Nigerian gas flare is a market driven program that will provide an avenue for gas flare to economically utilised, the presence of this gas flare has adverse effect on the health of the individuals and community,
He revealed further that the program will allow for companies to utilise the wasted gases towards more productive meanings in the region. It will provide job, reduce pollution in the environment and increase the standard of living”.
Other factors of the new developed policy and investment drive,Kachikwu said are also targeted at addressing the high level of inadequacies experienced with extractive projects.
“We are also developing a community based pipeline project that is targeted towards fostering community relation while ensuring the protection of our resources and income”.
Bekeme Masade,the convener of the programme in her opening remarks said the mandatory community development agreement between mining companies and their host communities as contained in the Nigeria Minerals and Mining Act of 2007 holds a lot of for steming conflict,adding that there is room for continuos engagement of stakeholders in the sector.
Harrison Edeh & Cynthia Egboboh, Abuja
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