Friday, 29th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search

Don’t remove 10% oil-producing areas’ fund from PIB, IYC warns

By Julius Osahon, Yenagoa
05 April 2016   |   12:24 am
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) yesterday warned the Federal Government against removing the 10 per cent oil-producing areas fund allocated in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), saying such removal was...

Buhari-Change

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) yesterday warned the Federal Government against removing the 10 per cent oil-producing areas fund allocated in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), saying such removal was an invitation to anarchy.

The council in a statement signed by its spokesman, Eric Omare, said the plot to remove the fund, was a grand conspiracy against people of the oil producing Niger Delta region.

IYC, which is the umbrella body of Ijaw youths worldwide, in rejecting the decision, said the action depicts insensitivity of President Muhammadu Buhari administration to the sufferings of the oil-producing communities of the region.

The statement said, “This decision is obviously an invitation to renewed hostilities and agitations in the Niger Delta region. The IYC enjoins Nigerians and men of conscience to reject this decision.”

The group also drew attention into the “negative and oppressive decisions of the Buhari-led administrations towards the region, and the grave consequences on peace and security in the region.”

According to IYC, removing the fund from the PIB is a design by northern elements to continue their grip on the Niger Delta oil resources.

“The oil communities’ development fund is a laudable initiative proposed in the PIB, to make the making oil-producing communities’ stakeholders in the oil resources that are produced in their communities, as well as addressing the sabotage and associated challenges,” the group added.

It called on members of the National Assembly, especially those from the Niger Delta region, to reject the plot, describing it as “oppressive and retrogressive.”

0 Comments