As Delta govt recommends ways to to end pipeline bombings

By Emma Amaize, Samuel Oyadongha, Egufe Yafugborhi & Akpokona Omafuaire

YENAGOA—Bayelsa State governor, Mr  Seriake Dickson, yesterday in Yenagoa met with representatives of International Oil Companies IOCs and security chiefs to proffer solutions to the recent upsurge in criminal activities in the Niger Delta region.

Dickson, who called for concerted effort be made to arrest the trend, decried the killings of security personnel, innocent citizens and the vandalization of the oil installations by the Niger Delta Avengers, describing the perpetrators as criminals and economic saboteurs.

Declaring the meeting open, Dickson said, the development was sending a wrong signal to the international community, adding that, foreign investors were being scared away from investing in the country.

Reiterating his administration’s commitment to the protection of lives and property, the governor said, that the recent development was affecting the socio-economic growth of not only the state, but the entire region.

Meanwhile, Delta State Advocacy Committee, against Oil Facility Vandalism, headed by the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro, has, suggested measures that the Federal Government could exploit to end the spate of pipeline bombings in the Niger Delta region by Niger Delta Avengers, NDA and other militant groups.

Otuaro, who briefed reporters at Government House Annexe, Warri,  Delta State after the committee spent 12 days in the creeks dialoguing with traditional rulers, youth groups, ex-militants, oil companies and stakeholders, noted that there was no permanent solution to bombing at this time.

“The Advocacy Committee cannot, in the circumstance, find a pathway that may lead to permanent solution as commissioned. There is need for key stakeholders, government and oil companies to step up and ensure that they bring development commensurate with what is being taken from these communities.”

He noted that there was “total willingness on the part of the communities to help Federal Government end oil facility vandalism provided there were recognised platforms to do so without being misconstrued.

On military option by government, the committee chairman said; “There is a consensus that military/invasion option would not help resolve the issue.”