Peoples Development Initiative, IPDI, has urged multinational oil companies operating in the Niger Delta region, which declined to relocate their operational headquarters to the area notwithstanding several directives from the Federal Government, to vacate the oil-rich region.
The rights group in a statement by the national president, Austin Ozobo, asserted: “Our attention has been drawn to the gross failure of oil multinational companies operating in Niger Delta to return their operational headquarters to the region despite several directives from the Federal government of Nigeria.” “It is our warning that oil multinational companies refusing to relocate their operational headquarters to the Niger Delta should quit or vacate the region.
It is provocative and absurd for oil companies operating in the region to undermine the clarion calls of stakeholders to relocate back to the region. “It is imperative to note that our environment is being polluted and degraded day in and out.
Our ecology system has been damaged. We inhale hydrocarbon particles and emissions emanating from gas flaring, uncompleted combustion and other oil activities, but no justice is done to ameliorate it. “We make bold to say that peace will elude Nigeria except Niger Delta is given her due place in the country.
It is equally appalling that the Muhammadu Buhari government cannot enforce compliance of its directive given to oil multinational companies to relocate their operational headquarters to Niger Delta region,” the group said. IPDI added: “It may interest you to note that Buhari government is a puppet in the hands of oil multinational companies operating in the country. It is obvious that the current government of the country lacks political will to proffer sanctions on defaulting oil companies in the country.”
“It is sad that Nigeria is governed by oil companies. It is a pity that Nigeria has turned a lawless state where oil companies dictate laws that should govern the country and how it should operate. We are disappointed at the government’s failure to compel these companies to do the needful,” the group asserted.
