By Festus Ahon

UGHELLI—THE Senior Programme Officer, Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN), Mr. Paulinus Okoro, has charged the Federal Government to key into the Voluntary Principles (VP),  Security and Human Rights’ ideals of oil and gas operation in the country, especially in the Niger Delta.

He said the Voluntary Principles, Security and Human Rights was put together by the U.S, U.K, Norway and Dutch governments and some oil companies, such as Shell, Chevron and International Human Rights and NGOs, on how extractive industries mainly oil and gas should operate.

Okoro, who spoke to newsmen during a 3-day workshop organized by the SDN at Okuokoko, near Warri, Delta State, expressed hope that if adopted by the government and oil companies operating in Nigeria, the voluntary principles  would help to find a lasting solution to the problems of the Niger Delta.

According to him, signing on to VP will have great impact on the international image of the country, particularly in the area of security and human rights.

He added that the VP would avail government and oil companies operating in the country the opportunity of knowing how to deal with oil bearing communities and give them a sense of belonging.

Reiterating that VPs could find a permanent solution to the Niger Delta problem, Okoro blamed the problem of the region on bad leadership.

He said the principle has a framework that regulates the relationship between oil companies and their host communities.

He said the upsurge of militancy in the region was as a result of “frustration and grievances of being locked out by oil companies and government.” Mr. Austin Onoha, Executive Director, African Centre for Corporate Responsibility, who also spoke during the workshop, noted that VP was put together in 2000.

According to Onoha, their concern was to ensure that oil companies adopt VP and apply its provisions.

He added that the essence of the workshop was to expose the communities to VPs and make them contribute their quota to the building of peace in the Niger Delta.