The president of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Professor Benjamin Okaba, has said the Niger Delta region deserves resource justice and fair benefit from its natural wealth, not compensation for oil pipeline protection.
Okaba stated this while speaking on the plight of oil-producing communities, during the Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) engagement meeting with stakeholders from host communities of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) in Yenagoa.
He also emphasised that the federal government must address long-standing issues of environmental degradation, underdevelopment, and marginalisation.
“Again, we will not fail to say that this pipeline that we are protecting, the federal government should not actually compensate us but give us what is due us. And what is due us is resource justice, at least fifty percent of whatever that comes from our resources,” he said.
Okaba argued that the people of the Niger Delta, who bear the brunt of oil exploration, should be the first beneficiaries of its proceeds before any other region.
“Where you have the oil, where you have the gold, the people from that area should benefit first before you take it elsewhere. In the case of the Niger Delta, it is the other way round. We have suffered devastation, a damaged environment, and a battered health system,” Okaba lamented.
The INC president also called for the establishment of modular refineries and the issuance of licenses to local investors, saying this would reduce the country’s dependence on imported fuel and create jobs for host communities.
“We don’t need to export crude. We have the technology to refine it ourselves. It’s a win-win for everyone, the federal government benefits from reduced import costs, and the local people benefit from development. Former Vice President Osinbajo made this promise; it is time to fulfill it,” he added.
Okaba further stressed the need for harmonisation of petroleum laws, noting the inconsistencies between the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the 2007 Oil Mineral Mining Act, which he said creates discrimination and confusion.
Speaking on community relations, the INC president praised the continuous engagement efforts of pipeline surveillance companies like PINL with stakeholders and host communities, describing them as vital for peace and understanding.
“When you have constant engagement, you create confidence, sincerity, and trust. It helps people express their frustrations and also see results when promises are kept. It’s a better way to build sustainable peace and development,” he said.
Also, the general manager, Community Relations and Stakeholder Engagement of PINL, Dr Akpos Mezeh, stated that the company has expanded its operations ‘pro bono’ to include all oil and gas facilities in close proximity to the TNP.
He said that PINL, whose primary area of operations is on the Eastern Corridor of the Trans Niger Pipeline, had decided to provide the free services in the interest of national development.
He called on stakeholders to scale up real time information around these critical assets for optimum protection.
Mezeh also disclosed that following from previous meetings, Biseni community has been included in its operations while plans are on to include other communities from Sagbama local government area.
