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Oil producing Community leaders threaten to reject Audit Report

By on January 2, 2013

Having petitioned the Federal Government on mismanagement of the 13 percent derivation fund paid to the State Governments within the Niger-Delta region, the leaders of the six oil producing communities have vowed to frustrate any audit of the funds allocation and utilization.

They are agitated that despite the dissatisfaction expressed through their petitions, no consideration has been made to visit oil producing communities where the exploration and drilling are carried out.

Despite the huge revenues going to the region, a partial fulfilment of the ‘Resource Control’ agitations of Former Governors, Victor Attah (Akwa Ibom), James Ibori (Dellta), Depriye Alamiesiyah (Bayelsa), Donald Duke (Cross River) and Peter Odili (Rivers), the development expected, has not been achieved especially in the Oil-producing communities.

History of agitations and discontent in the region,can be traced to the challenge of deprivation of the communities from where the oil is drilled from. The Ogoni crisis that led to the formation of MOSOP (Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People) was the foundation for ‘Resource Control’ claims.

Already President Goodluck in a swift reaction to the issue, has ordered for a thorough audit to be carried out on the Oil and Gas sector operations, and investigations into the allocation and utilization of the 13 percent derivation to State Governments.

Despite this move, the communities, making their documented presentation through their representatives namely;William Igere (Delta), Pastor MaacPherson Kurobo (Bayelsa), Harry Opaks (Rivers), Saviour James Okon (Akwa Ibom), Princess Nomwen Uhumnwunagho (Edo) and Samuel Ebiwanno (Ondo) want an Impact assessment to be carried out in the affected areas.

They believe this will authenticate their claims, and cause the Federal Government to beam the searchlight, on how the Governors have been handling the funds meant to develop and transform the Oil-rich communities.