Expedite action on issues concerning the Niger Delta, FG charged

The national president of the Host Communities Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM), Dr. Mike Emuh, has charged the federal government to expedite action on some key agreements that both of them have reached as regards the setting up of regular and modular refineries in the Niger Delta area; pipeline surveillance deal and release of the gas flare penalty levy among several other issues.

He asserted that HOSTCOM is prepared to do business with the government as it has all it takes to kick-start all of the proposed business ventures.

Dr. Emuh gave thumbs up to the Senate for a horde of steps it has taken to ensure that the issue of perceived marginalization of the Niger Delta region is addressed.

He listed some of the positive signal from the Senate as the gas flare prohibition bill; acceptance of HOSTCOM memorandum at a recent public hearing of the senate and the passing of the PIB among others.

The HOSTCOM President appealed to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to fast track the construction of two regular and ten modular refineries in the oil producing communities.

“HOSTCOM is now ready for the construction of the refineries as we have collated the areas where they will be sited.
“Delay could be dangerous on this issue,” he posited.

On pipeline surveillance, Dr. Emuh said that the HOSTCOM have capable hands who will do a good job of securing all the oil pipelines.

“We want to thank the Ministry of Agriculture for accepting HOSTCOM collaboration based on President Muhammadu Buhari’s innovation on diversification from oil and gas to agriculture.

“All HOSTCOM states are ready with farmlands required to kick-off the ground breaking ceremony of the agriculture project.”

Dr. Emuh praised the Ministry of Information and Culture and governors of oil producing states “for the approval of Miss Oil and Gas Beauty Pageant.

“Now that the Niger Delta is at peace I am appealing to Federal Government to come up with immediate solution to the region so as to avoid the eruption of any other crisis in the region.”

He charged all the stakeholders in the region and groups canvassing or working for the development of the Niger Delta region to “work as an entity to provide development solutions through empowerment, employment and other good means for the implementation of all the approved points of agitation of the region.”

Dr. Emuh charged men of goodwill to continue to pray fervently for the quick recovery and safe return of President Buhari to the country “for the peace, progress and unity of Nigeria.”

In another development, at the end of HOSTCOM’s professionals meeting held at its guest house situated at Effurum GRA Warri on Monday afternoon, the groups of engineers, farmers, retired military/paramilitary officers, clergies and lawyers expressed their concern towards the transformation of the Niger Delta.

Meanwhile, Dr. Emuh paid tribute to the former leader of HOSTCOM, Chief Alfred Bubor, who died recently aged 80 years.

“We (HOSTCOM) mourn the passage of Chief Alfred Bubor, one of our founding fathers. We have set up a committee to plan with his family to give him a befitting burial,” he stated.