Nigeria: Niger Delta Crisis Threat to Nation - Bankole
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, warned yesterday that the current crisis in the Niger Delta region was capable of consuming the whole country and, therefore, stressed the need to find out what happened to the revenue emanating from the area over time.
Giving a keynote address at the commencement in Abuja of the investigation by the House of the activities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), its subsidiaries and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) between 1999 and 2008, the Speaker also said the NNPC had failed the nation.
"I tell you today that the problem of Niger Delta as is clear to all of us is affecting every home in Nigeria; not just those happening in Rivers State or Bayelsa or the one that results in the kidnapping of politicians, mothers, children and wives or people working in the oil industry.
"If care is not taken, it will begin to move out of the Niger Delta and consume the whole nation and it is not a rocket science to figure out that this is no longer a Niger Delta problem nor a Nigerian problem but a global problem.
"This investigation will seek to find out exactly what has happened to funds, those monies that were derived from the midst of the Niger Delta and also goes to explain to those people in the Niger Delta including the militants what has happened to those monies.
"Our job really is not to begin to blame or to prosecute. That is not the job of a Legislature. Our job has to do with the findings so that such things do not happen again so that those people who are out there in the Niger Delta can begin to see what has happened to that money and how it can be channelled accordingly and properly.
That is our resolve in the House of Representatives and I believe that is the resolve of Nigeria as a whole," he said.
Bankole dismissed the performance of NNPC since its creation as "not something to write home about," saying countries with far less potentials than Nigeria have surpassed it in most parameters of the global developmental index, adding therefore that it was what prompted the House investigation into its activities and those of DPR.
The Speaker dismissed any speculation of the lawmakers using the investigation to witch-hunt, saying: "For the umpteenth time, let me state that it is not in the character of this House to pursue vendetta missions or to witch-hunt any individual, group or institution for whatever purpose, as that would amount to the House engaging in a macabre dance of absurdity which would pay no one."
Speaking earlier, chairman of the Joint Committee, Rep. Igo Aguma, stressed the need to examine the critical issues militating against the effectiveness of the oil sector especially the management of the sector.
"It is, therefore, incumbent upon this committee and by extension, the House of Representatives to make an indepth study of the issues that impinge or impede activities and operations in these vital sectors overseeing our oil interests. It is within this prism that the work of this committee will be appreciated," he said.
The chairman added that the committee would perform its task in accordance with the terms of reference contained in its mandate, saying: "Accordingly, we shall be studying a wide range of headings ranging from due process, status of institutions and companies, accountability, grievances and a number of others, all aimed at submitting appropriate recommendations to the House.
"This will, in the final analysis, guide in the possible making and or amendment of existing laws relating to the development of the oil and gas sector. We cannot afford to fail in this assignment," Rep. Aguma noted.
In his submission to the committee, Minister of State for Energy (Petroleum), Odein Ajumogobia (SAN), recalled that he came into office only in July 2007 and was therefore not equipped with the details required by the committee even though he received some handover notes from his predecessor.
He conceded that there were some lapses in the oil sector which needed improvement but stopped short of saying the sector had failed.
The Minister blamed the ineffectiveness of the DPR on the constraints it has such as lack of funds and adequate personnel and not necessarily because of sharp practices.
"The department is constrained by lack of funding and personnel as well as statutory role. Its ineffectiveness is not necessarily as a result of malfeasance. I determined that my priority was funding to keep up the level of exploration.
The contracting process for project in the NNPC takes a long time, approximately 24 months. There is room for improvement. Downstream is where most Nigerians have problems," he said.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, warned yesterday that the current crisis in the Niger Delta region was capable of consuming the whole country and, therefore, stressed the need to find out what happened to the revenue emanating from the area over time.
Giving a keynote address at the commencement in Abuja of the investigation by the House of the activities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), its subsidiaries and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) between 1999 and 2008, the Speaker also said the NNPC had failed the nation.
"I tell you today that the problem of Niger Delta as is clear to all of us is affecting every home in Nigeria; not just those happening in Rivers State or Bayelsa or the one that results in the kidnapping of politicians, mothers, children and wives or people working in the oil industry.
"If care is not taken, it will begin to move out of the Niger Delta and consume the whole nation and it is not a rocket science to figure out that this is no longer a Niger Delta problem nor a Nigerian problem but a global problem.
"This investigation will seek to find out exactly what has happened to funds, those monies that were derived from the midst of the Niger Delta and also goes to explain to those people in the Niger Delta including the militants what has happened to those monies.
"Our job really is not to begin to blame or to prosecute. That is not the job of a Legislature. Our job has to do with the findings so that such things do not happen again so that those people who are out there in the Niger Delta can begin to see what has happened to that money and how it can be channelled accordingly and properly.
That is our resolve in the House of Representatives and I believe that is the resolve of Nigeria as a whole," he said.
Bankole dismissed the performance of NNPC since its creation as "not something to write home about," saying countries with far less potentials than Nigeria have surpassed it in most parameters of the global developmental index, adding therefore that it was what prompted the House investigation into its activities and those of DPR.
The Speaker dismissed any speculation of the lawmakers using the investigation to witch-hunt, saying: "For the umpteenth time, let me state that it is not in the character of this House to pursue vendetta missions or to witch-hunt any individual, group or institution for whatever purpose, as that would amount to the House engaging in a macabre dance of absurdity which would pay no one."
Speaking earlier, chairman of the Joint Committee, Rep. Igo Aguma, stressed the need to examine the critical issues militating against the effectiveness of the oil sector especially the management of the sector.
"It is, therefore, incumbent upon this committee and by extension, the House of Representatives to make an indepth study of the issues that impinge or impede activities and operations in these vital sectors overseeing our oil interests. It is within this prism that the work of this committee will be appreciated," he said.
The chairman added that the committee would perform its task in accordance with the terms of reference contained in its mandate, saying: "Accordingly, we shall be studying a wide range of headings ranging from due process, status of institutions and companies, accountability, grievances and a number of others, all aimed at submitting appropriate recommendations to the House.
"This will, in the final analysis, guide in the possible making and or amendment of existing laws relating to the development of the oil and gas sector. We cannot afford to fail in this assignment," Rep. Aguma noted.
In his submission to the committee, Minister of State for Energy (Petroleum), Odein Ajumogobia (SAN), recalled that he came into office only in July 2007 and was therefore not equipped with the details required by the committee even though he received some handover notes from his predecessor.
He conceded that there were some lapses in the oil sector which needed improvement but stopped short of saying the sector had failed.
The Minister blamed the ineffectiveness of the DPR on the constraints it has such as lack of funds and adequate personnel and not necessarily because of sharp practices.
"The department is constrained by lack of funding and personnel as well as statutory role. Its ineffectiveness is not necessarily as a result of malfeasance. I determined that my priority was funding to keep up the level of exploration.
The contracting process for project in the NNPC takes a long time, approximately 24 months. There is room for improvement. Downstream is where most Nigerians have problems," he said.
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