Stakeholders in the Niger Delta region have called for stronger penalties for oil companies promoting gas flaring in the area.
This was contained in a communiqué issued on Friday at the end of a one-day stakeholders’ meeting organised by ActionAid Nigeria in Asaba, Delta State.
The communiqué endorsed by the County Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu, presented a visual compilation of the negative impact of oil companies in the Niger Delta.
It read partly, “The round table meeting on the negative impact of big oil companies in the Niger Delta environment observed Western banks funding the activities of multinational oil companies for oil exploration in the Niger Delta thus intensifying the environmental degradation.
“Community leaders are compromised due to poverty, this is a result of divide and rule strategy used by the multi-national oil companies. The lack of political will on the part of our leaders to implement relevant laws has impeded the fight against abnormalities associated with oil explorations in the Niger Delta.
“Emphasis is on gas flaring; there is waste from the water channels and also the issue of deforestation. We hereby appeal to the government to put in place strong penalties for oil companies embarking on gas flaring.
“There should be a proper cleanup of the areas affected by the effect of the oil spillages in the Niger Delta.”
While calling on oil companies to map out ways for the transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy, the stakeholders said all multi-national companies must as a necessity have a carbon gas desk
They called on host communities and individuals affected by oil exploration to have an understanding of the PIA, calling on the House Committee on climate change and the Committee of Niger Delta Affairs to establish a desk office with the host communities for ease of complaints.
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