…CDS Seeks Partnership To Combat Oil Theft, Kidnapping
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has condemned the injustice andunfair conspiracy and collusion of all oil firms and regulatory bodies existing in Nigeria, against the interest of host communities of the Niger Delta, region.
Governor Diri disclosed this on Tuesday when the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Yenagoa.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the Governor as saying that part of the security challenges in host communities were as a result of the injustice and unfair treatment by the oil companies aided by the regulatory authorities.
Governor Diri decried the month-long oil and gas spillage in Nembe Local Government Area of the state from an AITEO Exploration and Production Limited facility.
The Governor stated that it eventually resulted in litigation due to the manner the company and the regulatory bodies treated the impacted communities.
According to the Governor, the disposition of his government towards the affected host communities prevented another flashpoint of conflict between them, AITEO and, by extension, the security agencies.
“For us as a government, from the moment we assumed office, we have always preached peace and security and looking for constitutional, legal and legitimate ways of addressing the injustices over the years in our state.
“A case in point was the AITEO oil spill. That facility was said to be unproductive, it was not decommissioned and it spewed oil for over a month, which was the first of its kind in the history of oil exploration in this country.
“At the end of the day, a potential source of conflict was during the joint inspection visit, which has caused a rift between the state government, AITEO and, to an extent, the supervisors from the oil and gas sector.
“However, because of our disposition, we have been able to calm down our communities. Now it is the state government with the local government on one side, and of course AITEO and the supervising oil and gas bodies on the other side, which I feel should not be if we do what is right, and if there is equity and fairness.
“For the fact that the environment has been affected as well as the source of livelihood of the people, it is very human for the oil companies to have immediately responded by way of compensation. Unfortunately, what we have seen is that there is some collaboration and collusion with AITEO and the regulatory agencies and we were forced to take legal action against AITEO.“ He said.
Governor Diri called for synergy between the State and the military.
He recalled that the need for synergy was the focus when the Chief of Defence Staff invited governors to Abuja to discuss how to ensure uninterrupted oil and gas production in the Niger Delta when he was newly appointed.
The Governor stressed that his administration is open to collaboration, and synergy adding that such partnership would strengthen the existing relationship between the state and the security agencies.
Earlier, Gen. Lucky Irabor said his team was in Bayelsa State because they recognisef the crucial role of the Bayelsa State government in accommodating and strengthening the operations of the country’s armed forces.
He added that the visit was also to solidify the partnership between both parties, particularly in combating oil theft, kidnapping and the destruction of oil facilities across the state.
The Defence Chief noted that any form of destruction of the nation’s oil investment is a direct attack on the future of the country’s oil wealth.
He commended Governor Diri for his unrelenting support to the military and other security agencies.
