February 7, 2025
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FG should stop paying states derivation funds -Bishop Emuh

The National Chairman of the Host Communities producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM), Bishop Mike Emuh, has urged the Federal Government to henceforth give express orders to the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Committee to release the 13 percent derivation fund to his organization instead of what presently obtains whereby the state governments collect the money.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Daily Times in Warri yesterday, Bishop Emuh asserted that the new year should usher in a change in the way things are being done in the country.
Among others, he appealed to the government through the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to give quick approval for the pipeline surveillance contract to be given to the HOSTCOM.
“There is also the issue of the need to award oil contract to HOSTCOM and the need to approve ten modular refineries licenses to the HOSTCOM.  We are also urging the Ministry of Environment to commence with immediate effect the cleaning of Ogoniland,” Bishop Emuh stated.
Going further, he stated that “it is pertinent that the International Oil Companies (IOCs) relocate with immediate effect to their locations of operation based on the local content law that oil companies should stay in the communities where they operate and to develop it.”
He charged the IOCs to pay all gas flare penalty levy money that have accumulated for the past seven years through the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to the federation account within 21 days and as well stop gas flaring within the next 90 days.
“We wish to appreciate our children in the creeks, ask them to toe the line of dialogue with the federal government. We are admonishing the amnesty office to make proper use of the budget of this year in the interest of the development of the Niger Delta and to work in conjunction with the parent body (HOSTCOM).”
Bishop Emuh congratulated the members of the newly inaugurated board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) while appreciating them for the network of road rehabilitation that they are presently doing.
“We encourage them to complete all outstanding projects before awarding new ones. We also advise them to work in conjunction with the HOSTCOM for peace and development in the Niger Delta region,”  he affirmed.
On the war to uproot the Boko Haram insurgents from the country, Bishop Emuh called on all Nigerians to give full support to President Muhammadu Buhari and the military to totally crush the hoodlums.
 Emuh also appealed to Nigerians to stand firm with the President in the fight against corruption and all forms of criminality
“All religions and clergymen should speak as one in supporting the President to usher in peace and tranquility to the country this year,” he concluded.

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