The oil companies have been given 7 days to "rectify faulty oil pumps and stop oil spills." Apparently, this ultimatum is in response to a recent trip to the Delta that was taken by a few Senators who apparently had little idea about the severity of the damage and poverty experienced by Delta residents.
Senator Eze of Enugu North said, "The Senate President has rightly put it that this is going to be a test case that we are not toothless bulldog. This Senate will bark and bite and we have to demonstrate the centrality of the Senate in the nation's democratic governance."
The motion passed by the Senate included the following language,
We "[c]ondemn unequivocally the Shell Petroleum development Company for its dastard act of neglect of the Ikot Ado Udo Oil Spillage in Akwa-Ibom for three months, leading to loss of livelihood to the people.Alright, it took a trip from some Senators for them to finally realize that oil companies must do a better job in the Delta? I hate to be so cynical, but they make it too easy for me. Besides, reading the 'motion' makes me realize that all this is empty rhetoric! It fails to contain a specific plan on addressing the environmental problem other than passing the buck on to the relevant agencies."Urge the President, Commnader-In-Chief [sic] to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and other relevant multi-national corporations to rectify oil pumps and stop further spillage in the areas within seven days.
"Direct its Committees on Petroleum (Upstream) and Environment to invite the Minister of State Energy (Petroleum) and Minister of Environment to look into the issue and all other outstanding issues in the Niger Delta raised by the various Syndicate Groups and report back within two weeks.
"As a long time measure, direct the Committees on Petroleum (Upstream), Envir-onment and Judiciary and Legal Matters to immediately forward proposals for the amendment of all existing legislations to compel the multi-national oil companies responsible for oil spillage/ecological degradation of their operating areas to restore/develop the host communities/operating areas and pay adequate compensation."
Something tells me that Senator Eze's words will come back to bite him. But, I wonder, why are there no laws that require the oil companies to observe better environmental practices? I concluded that there aren't adequate laws based on the last paragraph of the motion. The Senate should not be condemning, urging or directing. They should DECISIVELY institute a motion to create the necessary laws that will protect the Delta's people and give oil companies the guidelines within which they can properly operate. TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM, ISN'T THAT YOUR JOB? The Senate makes it seem as if the oil companies are the bad guys! The government is at fault for not regulating the oil companies! If the Senate truly wanted to regulate oil production, it would.
We are watching....
Posts
![[twit12.jpg]](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OFh1WWXWCHM/SWzGxTEpk5I/AAAAAAAAC1U/uqdhsKd74do/s1600/twit12.jpg)
15 Curiosities. Add Yours.:
Im he first......pls dont forget to check back at my blog...have updated with pics of the b'day...thanks for the good wishes and stopping by....
Great blog . . . . very informative. . . .
HA! Not another one! What are these senators doing? Condemning. urging, directing?
What happened to making strict laws THAT REGULATES, SANCTIONS AND MONITORS THE ACTIONS OF THESE OIL COMPANIES?
Don't they know urging will not do anyting but signal to these oil companies and the world that anyone can do ANYTING they want in Nigeria and get "URGING" FROM THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT.
While they are at it, telecommunications companies should also be 'URGED & CONDEMNED' for making my country a dumping ground for their excess/used phones.
*HISS*
do the oil companies really comply with these ultimatums?...I doubt it!
let me just say, despite this is a good move..coruption wouldnt help us attain our dreams for naija..most times its a different motive. I was at a conference with the CEO of one of the biggest service coys operating in Nigeria and he made a statement that killed my spirit. He said " Nigeria says they want to reduce the flaring by this percent, repair this by this percent...but how is that possible, when the government isnt serious about it...they give us ultimatums, then they award the projects to their son-in-law..well when this happens, we dont expect much do wem, so business continues, w've met their ultimatum..well, in a way"
@ annengineer: You have made my point. When I initially started this post, I wanted to highlight a positive effort on the part of elected representatives. However, as i took a closer look at their 'mission', I son realized that the Senate wasn't doing anything but offering lip service! I know very well that such pandering is the art of politics, but because accountability is a foreign concept to Nigeria, I get so disappointed when it appears that nothing will change despite the rhetoric.
Anyway, I believe it was Ayo Adene who recently commented that we must maintain hope, so I will take his advice. But, you can understand my frustration, can't you?
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your insight with us!
U hate to be cynical? Do they give U a choice? They are always clowning. It is just insane when these self-righteous people talk this crap. U dont have to travel to the Niger Delta to know what is happening. All we can hope for are better policies for the Niger Delta. Thanks for the post and for reminding us not to forget the legendary Ken Saro-Wiwa. Nice one!
Thanks for watching.... I was going to say that we would have to wait and see what eventually happens. But then, how many times, and over how many issues, are we going to 'wait and see'?
@annengineer said it all for me too. The blind leading the clueless killed Ken Saro-Wiwa which will never be forgotten.
Our Senators believe in public service, believe in obeying the law, and believe fervently in Almighty God. It is up to us to find a solution to stop these few from stealing our wealth and stashing it in their freezers.
how pathetic that the fools had to go visit to know the severity of the situation in the niger delta...even people at emory university in atlanta are holding forums to discuss the issues...i really hope they will bite...*crossing her fingers, collecting her prayers for God, dusting off her book of meditations and preparing sacrifices for the orixas...calling in all forces for this one:)*...
I feel it is a step in the right direction. Just 5 years ago, the Senators who undertook the trip would have been given bagfuls of Ghana Must Go and the matter would have ended there!
It is sad but true. These oil coys want our oil by all means and they try & meet these ultimatums but people are suffering, health is at risk. The state of life in the Niger-Delta is shocking! Been there, born there, lived there and all I can say is "How pathetic", "how creul". How could your own natural resources bring you such doom!!!
Lets not forget the Gorgon Chevron Project in the North West Shelf of Western Australia. This project wasn't permitted to go on due to the possible extinction of "flat back turtles" A bird if I may emphasis!! Chevron spent over 15yrs on this project with millons of dollars to win this project! The Australian Govt said NO NO NO. They had to promise not to lead to extinction the turtles in this class 1 reserve and show their plans of not to do so..before the project was given the go ahead order few months ago!
I used to blame oil coys but not anymore..to a degree anyway! If they government cared about its people, they would do something...cause to these oil/service company, they would pay anything to drain Nigeria of its Oil!
My point being, if in a western world, an animal as turtle could be a decision for a project to go on or not, why are our people wasting away in the delta area! Poor health, poor drinking water, poor everything.
If they want to give ultimatums..let them give that STOP production/service ultimatums till everything is cleared.
Enuff said!
Lets not rely on this oil anymore. It has brought us more harm than good. Nigeria should start relying on other things abeg.
@ jinta, what makes you think they wont or havent already been given huge ghana must go bags. I too was born and brought up in the niger-delta, we were happy as fishermen and fishermen's children, drinking water from our rivers, now our source of livelihood is gone, the waters are all polluted, you can't drink the water, you cant fish cos their oil has killed the fish. Most of us wish the oil had never been found, at least not in our own villages, for it has brought us nothing but sorrow and more sorrow. No speeches or ultimatums can impress us, only change.
@annengineer: splendid point!!...*taking notes in her notebook*...my mom has been trying to get me to blame the government more than the companies...she's right...
@solomonsydelle: "The Senate makes it seem as if the oil companies are the bad guys! The government is at fault for not regulating the oil companies! If the Senate truly wanted to regulate oil production, it would."...wonderful take home point for me...missed it the first time around...
lucky senators they were not kidnapped.
Post a Comment
Get curious...share your thoughts, long and short. But, do remain civil.