Reps vows to seek Justice for affected oil and gas host communities.
The House of Representatives, has vowed to seek Justice for oil and gas host communities affected by negligence and disregard of environmental regulations by oil companies.
Chairman house Committee on environment Hon. Pondi Julius made this assertion during the joint committee on environment, petroleum resource up and down stream and climate change, meeting with oil and gas host community on Tuesday to investigate the environmental pollution within oil producing communities.
He said the objective of the meeting is to pave way for sustainable practices that prioritizes environmental preservation and community wellbeing.
He further said the consequences of negligence of environmental laws have reached alarming rate and has call for urgent intervention.
The chairman assures the representatives of oil and gas host communities that their plight are seen and will be dealt with accordingly,
The National president host communities producing oil and gas, Chief Benjamin Tamaranibi, in his presentation called on the committee to look into the UNEP presentation and problem statement in the ogoniland clean up: the quest for increased production without due consideration of the environmental degradation of host communities.
He said that despite the one billion dollars launched by United nation for Ogoni land clean up and restoration program, no reasonable impact has been made, “the 9th House of Representative committee on environment also remarked that in-spite of the huge funding from UNEP Ogoni land clean up, $360 million dollars was released and spent by the client ministry with no evidence of value of work done in Ogoni land,” he mentioned.
Benjamin also expressed displeasure at the deliberate exclusion and denial of host communities participatory rights, usurped development and violets global regulations, among other issues
He further crave the indulgence of the Committee and relevant state holders to ensure that the recommended needs of host communities are meet and their well-being taken into due consideration.
The committee further resolved to invite the minister of the client ministry of the Ogoni land clean up to give an explanation on the $360 million dollars appropriated, and adjourned till the 8th of May.
